Quick thoughts on Lions game

[HoosierinFL]

1. I feel like most agree AR is not a concern. Sure he could be more consistent, he did miss a few throws. But it seemed yesterday that all of his best plays were nullified by penalty or drop.

2. This team is just not very good talent wise. The oline got whipped by a superior dline. The TE group is worthless. JT was ineffective. The entire defense struggled to tackle their skill players, who attacked with speed and quickness and consistently picked up big gains. Like the IU-OSU game, the talent differential was very noticeable.

3. I didn't expect it, but this game really did resemble the IU-OSU game on Saturday. The offense consistently struggled to get first downs and couldn't protect the QB and/or committed drive killing penalties. The defense fought admirably but couldn't do it all. The biggest difference is that our punter did his best to save our ass with every kick, instead of gifting them 14 points.

[albany ed]

AR was certainly not the problem. Between his passing yards and his rushing yards, he accounted for 87% of the total offense. Penalties, extremely shitty OL performance and brick hands stopped this from bing a very close game. I also believe Dulin should have been able to get both feet down in bounds if he was any kind of pro.

[rm1369]

While the numbers look bad ARs performance was actually encouraging. I can see the incremental improvement. The accuracy wasn’t perfect but it was better than it was early in the season. That dime to AP was an absolutely perfect throw and he had a dart to MP that just as impressive. He had a few others that were very well placed. The throw aways show me growth. And he ran the ball hard without injury. He even got down a time or two when the contact would be unnecessary. He saved the OL multiple sure sacks on nearly any other QB. Ball security is still a concern though.

D also had its issues and the scheme is fucking awful, but they played well early. They wilted but that’s not surprising considering the offensive struggles.

OL sucks - the rookies are getting destroyed (especially Tucker). Nelson and Smith have been mediocre as well - constant stupid penalties and getting beat more often than they should. I get the unit aspect of OL play but individually they should be better than they’ve been.

We are in the Ballard “we have to draft it” mode at TE and the team is paying for it. Just as we have several other positions over the last 7 years. I’m fucking tired of it.

JT is overrated. Yes, he maximizes the creases the OL gives him better than most RBs, but if the OL isn’t providing decent creases he’s below average. He’s not a bruising “turn no gain into 3 yds” consistently back. He’s not a “scat” or Barry Sanders “ready to turn a missed tackle into a huge gain at any moment” type back. He’s mediocre as a pass catcher and a negative in pass pro. Basically he’s a luxury back.

Steichen seemed better situationally - no time out before half and accepted the punt when pinned deep in on 3rd and long. Both are encouraging. I’m still not a fan of the overall play calling though. With the OL struggles they should be moving the pocket more with designed roll outs that also let AR threaten the edge with his legs.

[Dam8610]

I didn't get the impression of your second point at all. In fact, my takeaway was that this team is good enough talent wise to hang with the best team in the league. Even the announcers on the broadcast were talking about how the game felt closer than what the scoreboard indicated, and that was with 60% of the starting OL being backup rookies. Drops and penalties took away most of the offense, Richardson actually had a really good game, he just had over 150 yards and 1-2 scores taken away by penalties and drops. This game probably goes much differently if Ogletree catches the TD and the refs don't completely stymie the Colts offensive momentum in the first half. The last time I remember calls that bad by the refs was the home game against the Packers a few years ago where the refs were determined to get the Packers the ball back in regulation and called something ridiculous like 5 holds in a row on the Colts.

[ChoppedWood]

1. I feel like most agree AR is not a concern. Sure he could be more consistent, he did miss a few throws. But it seemed yesterday that all of his best plays were nullified by penalty or drop.

2. This team is just not very good talent wise. The oline got whipped by a superior dline. The TE group is worthless. JT was ineffective. The entire defense struggled to tackle their skill players, who attacked with speed and quickness and consistently picked up big gains. Like the IU-OSU game, the talent differential was very noticeable.

3. I didn't expect it, but this game really did resemble the IU-OSU game on Saturday. The offense consistently struggled to get first downs and couldn't protect the QB and/or committed drive killing penalties. The defense fought admirably but couldn't do it all. The biggest difference is that our punter did his best to save our ass with every kick, instead of gifting them 14 points.

Another year down the Ballard tube. This dude is just awful at building a roster, just awful.

All over the radio today talking about how the Lions were 3-13 in 2021, and here they are in 2024 as the most talented team in the league. Contrast with the insane mediocrity that Bullshit Ballard has sold us.

Fuck that dude, fucking GO THE FUCK AWAY!

[YDFL Commish]

I didn't get the impression of your second point at all. In fact, my takeaway was that this team is good enough talent wise to hang with the best team in the league. Even the announcers on the broadcast were talking about how the game felt closer than what the scoreboard indicated, and that was with 60% of the starting OL being backup rookies. Drops and penalties took away most of the offense, Richardson actually had a really good game, he just had over 150 yards and 1-2 scores taken away by penalties and drops. This game probably goes much differently if Ogletree catches the TD and the refs don't completely stymie the Colts offensive momentum in the first half. The last time I remember calls that bad by the refs was the home game against the Packers a few years ago where the refs were determined to get the Packers the ball back in regulation and called something ridiculous like 5 holds in a row on the Colts.

I agree with this. No team is going to have a proficient offense down 3 starting OL. Just look at 49'rs.

The talent is there, but poor defensive coaching and the talent being in the wrong places is holding this team back.

[ChaosTheory]

I didn't get the impression of your second point at all. In fact, my takeaway was that this team is good enough talent wise to hang with the best team in the league. Even the announcers on the broadcast were talking about how the game felt closer than what the scoreboard indicated, and that was with 60% of the starting OL being backup rookies. Drops and penalties took away most of the offense, Richardson actually had a really good game, he just had over 150 yards and 1-2 scores taken away by penalties and drops. This game probably goes much differently if Ogletree catches the TD and the refs don't completely stymie the Colts offensive momentum in the first half. The last time I remember calls that bad by the refs was the home game against the Packers a few years ago where the refs were determined to get the Packers the ball back in regulation and called something ridiculous like 5 holds in a row on the Colts.

Granted, I fucking HATE talking about the refs, but shit... half of those calls were bothersome and it seemed like they were always at the worst time time.

And I agree. The talent point is silly.

I agree with this. No team is going to have a proficient offense down 3 starting OL. Just look at 49'rs.

The talent is there, but poor defensive coaching and the talent being in the wrong places is holding this team back.

AR has come back looking more intent to me. Bad box score again, but I didn't think it was like the HOU game. But now the OL is decimated which hurts everyone.

I'm not the biggest fan of the scheme, but I don't hate it like most here. I'm going to have to look up the numbers, because it seems like, outside the first couple of weeks, the defense is back to holding up until later in the game when the offense is leaving them hanging.

We've yet to play well or even be healthy on both sides of the ball in the same game. So it seems.

[ChaosTheory]

Keep in mind: we're coming off a stretch against the Vikings, Bills, and Lions... combined record of 28-5.

[Chromeburn]

So the breakdown from the game is apparently per PFF and Zach Hicks on twitter.

AR pressured on 46% of his passes, no sacks.
A 15% drop rate resulted in 51 yards and one TD.
79 yards on four completions that were nullified by penalties.

[Dam8610]

So the breakdown from the game is apparently per PFF and Zach Hicks on twitter.

AR pressured on 46% of his passes, no sacks.
A 15% drop rate resulted in 51 yards and one TD.
79 yards on four completions that were nullified by penalties.

And that doesn't count the 40+ yarder (that also could've been housed had he just stayed in bounds) Dulin lost by not getting both feet down.

[Dam8610]

Granted, I fucking HATE talking about the refs, but shit... half of those calls were bothersome and it seemed like they were always at the worst time time.

And I agree. The talent point is silly.

I usually don't like talking about the refs, but in the first half after the first 2 drives, it seemed like every time the Colts hit a big play that looked like a drive starter, there was a ref to call some ticky tack bullshit and completely take the momentum away. To his credit, AR overcame it a few of the times and was still able to get at least a first down after the penalty, but that just meant the refs called a bigger penalty later to ensure the drive was killed.

[Colts And Orioles]

I didn't get the impression of your second point at all. In fact, my takeaway was that this team is good enough talent wise to hang with the best team in the league. Even the announcers on the broadcast were talking about how the game felt closer than what the scoreboard indicated, ) and that was with 60% of the starting OL being back-up rookies. ) Drops and penalties took away most of the offense, and Richardson actually had a really good game ...... he just had over 150 yards and 1-2 scores taken away by penalties and drops. This game probably goes much differently if Ogletree catches the TD, and the refs don't completely stymie the Colts offensive momentum in the first half. The last time I remember calls that bad by the refs was the home game against the Packers a few years ago, where the refs were determined to get the Packers the ball back in regulation and called something ridiculous like 5 holds in a row on the Colts.





o


The Colts may be down to their 3rd-string center for this week's game against the Patriots ......



Colts C Tanor Bortolini Is in the Concussion Protocol

(NBC Sports)

https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-c-tanor-bortolini-concussion-132344826.html

o

[albany ed]

o


The Colts may be down to their 3rd-string center for this week's game against the Patriots ......



Colts C Tanor Bortolini Is in the Concussion Protocol

(NBC Sports)

https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-c-tanor-bortolini-concussion-132344826.html

o

We need to find a way of blaming Ballard for this.

[ChoppedWood]

We need to find a way of blaming Ballard for this.

Well, I can confirm Ballard breathed. That's enough for me.

[Colts And Orioles]

o


The Colts may be down to their 3rd-string center for this week's game against the Patriots ......



Colts C Tanor Bortolini Is in the Concussion Protocol

(NBC Sports)

https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-c-tanor-bortolini-concussion-132344826.html

o







We need to find a way of blaming Ballard for this.





o


I think that it's enough that we already blame him for AIDS, COVID, homelessness, and World War II.

o

[YDFL Commish]

I really don't understand why Irsay rarely gets any of the blame.

Ballard doesn't go after FA's because he doesn't want to. He doesn't do it because Irsay won't spend.

Do you really think that Ballard would risk his job because he has frugal philosophy? I wouldn't.

Hell, in my job, I want the latest greatest, best of everything. But ownership isn't willing to spend.

[ChaosTheory]

I really don't understand why Irsay rarely gets any of the blame.

Ballard doesn't go after FA's because he doesn't want to. He doesn't do it because Irsay won't spend.

Do you really think that Ballard would risk his job because he has frugal philosophy? I wouldn't.

Hell, in my job, I want the latest greatest, best of everything. But ownership isn't willing to spend.

Eh, I don't think Irsay has a problem spending. Ballard just isn't big on FA. Of course, he's also not the money-under-the-mattress meme that everyone runs with.

He spent $200m on FA last off-season after he offered Danielle Hunter more money than the Texans (just wasn't enough to offset the fact that he has family and we have no income tax here).

Plus he signed all of those checks for Grigson, who was the polar opposite.

[ChoppedWood]

I really don't understand why Irsay rarely gets any of the blame.

Ballard doesn't go after FA's because he doesn't want to. He doesn't do it because Irsay won't spend.

Do you really think that Ballard would risk his job because he has frugal philosophy? I wouldn't.

Hell, in my job, I want the latest greatest, best of everything. But ownership isn't willing to spend.

I blame Irsay for a LOT, a LOT of the dysfunctional shit we see- I blame on him. The issue is, he's the head cheese, there is no one to yell about holding him accountable. With Ballard, Bradley, Steichen, there's someone higher up that can be bitched about for not enforcing accountability. Unfortunately that doesn't apply to Jim.

[njcoltfan]

I blame Irsay for a LOT, a LOT of the dysfunctional shit we see- I blame on him. The issue is, he's the head cheese, there is no one to yell about holding him accountable. With Ballard, Bradley, Steichen, there's someone higher up that can be bitched about for not enforcing accountability. Unfortunately that doesn't apply to Jim.
Well, when HIS stadium becomes a HOME game for his opponent, maybe he will !!!!!!!

[apballin]

I know I’m late here but a few things

1. Very encouraging what I seen from Latu against the best oline in football, to me that fumble could’ve changed the game

2. AR looked good also, finished the game had some strong early runs and made some big throws

Now the shit

1. JT looked like shit, soft scared pussy ass shit, that flea flicker he threw on the ground nearly made me puke

2. Dalton Tucker got destroyed all game and they just left him in there to get road graded all game long.

3. Ogletree drop was huge, why did Mo Allie cox get a contract???

That OPI on Pierce was total fuckin bullshit