Especially when he can be in a dual backfield with Mack or Turbin, IMO, then split out when directed. You saw the impact in freeing up Ebron to get a flag route on a safety today when Hines held the corner just standing as smoke screen eligible basically.

Whatever happened with Ebron? Was he not in at the end?

I've said all along that Pagano's biggest weakness was offensive playcalling and gameplan. That this is a revelation to you shows how little you paid attention to what I've been saying.

Was the defensive design and playcalling also sucking just a fun bonus?

now you’re catching on

I wouldn’t read to much into the culture yet. It was the first game of the season and a very young team. Some sloppy play and mistakes should be expected. It’s easy to blame the loss on a few critical plays like Luck’s pick and Geathers PI penalty. But to me the game was lost in the consistently poor plays. Letting what was the 2nd worst rushing offense in the league last year average over 5 yds a carry. Letting Andy freaking Dalton complete 75% of his passes for - 109.7 rating. They weren’t killed by chunk plays or big plays, Or even the boneheaded plays. It was consistently poor play defensively. How many 6-7 yd runs did they allow on first down? That’s not unexpected considering what the coaching staff was given to work with. I’ll judge the culture after a few games and see if they cut down on the boneheaded plays, but I doubt the overall poor play changes. Coaching matters, but it’s still trumped by talent. And defensively the Colts are severely lacking.

For the sake of humanity would you please just shut the fuck up. Where the dial says "On/Off"- fucking turn it to OFF and leave it there!

FUCK!

Mack & Roquan Smith going crazy for the Bears. I'd prefer a slow rebuild and start with pieces that don't have such a visible impact.

Like many games last year, this was winnable. Unlike last year, the arrow is pointing up. As I watch Mack rip apart the Packers I wonder what could have been if we traded for him.

This defense has no pass rush, I hope it changes but I don't think it will. If you don't have a pass rush, your defense will suck. We need a 3-tech in the middle to make this D work. People keep looking at The old Tampa 2 we ran and think we need a Freeney and Mathis. It would be nice but we should look at the Bear and Tampa builds for the design. There should be a lot of good DTs available next draft. Unfortunately, no help is coming this year. I have my doubts about the Tampa 2 system, I think the league has moved on from it. But at least get the right personnel to make it work.

Leonard looks like a keeper and a bright spot, but all the LBs are raw. They will be better at the end of the year. Hooker looks a step slow to me. I think it takes two years to recover from knee injuries. And don't forget, experience wise, he is still essentially a rookie.

The offense looks competent and should get better with more time running it and more experience. The rookies need more game time. It is fairly encouraging that they did so well on their first outing. Too bad Deon Cain tore his knee, I think he would do well in this system.

When it comes down to it, this is not a playoff team. The front office doesn't think so, we shouldn't either. We have 60 million in cap space. It's a rebuilding year. I expect them to address the defense next year, but this year, expect a long season when it comes to the D. It will be the Achilles of this team this year.

Off the subject of Pagano (could we ban bringing him up for say a month) but I liked this defense a lot better than last years. They gave up way to many big plays, were way to inconsistent and didn’t play as a unit all the time. On top of that we lack talent at several positions. But we are on a rebuild like it or not. I saw speed and most importantly something I haven’t seen a colts defense do in a long time-create turnovers. I know only one game but that is a mindset we have been missing. Looking forward to seeing improvement I, along with a lot of you freaks, have hope for the future. Nothing is more fun than watching your team go from shit to winning. We got the shit part down pretty good Now let’s hope we learn how to win

All I know is that I had zero joy watching Colts football last year regardless of leads they held or games they could have won. I'm seeing positive change this season, and I enjoyed today's game even in defeat. It's probably going to be rough, but as others have said the arrow is pointing up.

My .02:

- Was great to see a competent game plan and play calling. It's just 1 game, but Reich and his staff look head and shoulders better than Clappy and his clowns.

- I think if we play the Bungles again in week ~8 or so we win without too much trouble after we're (hopefully) healthier, have the rust knocked off, and everyone is comfortable with the new schemes, etc. With that being said we still probably should have won today. You just can't come away with no points off the Moore pick and Doyle's fumble is absolutely turrible.

- The officiating was terrible, and that DPI call that gifted the Bungles 7 at the end of the half was a god awful call. If Wilson's name was something like Ramsey the refs don't even think about throwing that flag.

- Ebron looked great today and if he keeps it up will be a steal and Ballard's best FA signing.

- The D definitely lacks talent, but Hunt looked like a beast today. Not sure if that's him finally turning the corner or the Bungles OL sucking, but if I was a Bungles fan I'd be pretty nervous about that.

16) there will be more to come. i want to watch the game a few more times and will be adding comments here[/QUOTE]

Chester Rodgers needs to learn the Fair catch signal if he's going to continue to field punts.......

They are who we thought they are.....a team in full rebuild. Still, with Luck and competent coaching we will win more than last year but probably not make the playoffs. Still, I enjoyed watching this team a hell of a lot more than last years team. Also I think AC is the second most important talent on this team behind Luck. He needs to get his ass out there and play the next 15 games or Andrew will get broken again, even with this new scheme. Andrews best and worst skill is never giving up on the play. Go Colts!

As someone who witnessed the Willis Reed moment it was nice to see it happen again. Plus I live up here in Wisconsin.

Blame Omaha, he's the one obsessed with bringing up Pagano and talking shit about me for no good reason.

He's not quoting you in his sig.

They ran a heavy formation with Smith as a TE

I saw that when he was on the right side. Are you sure that's the case when he was on the left side?

Most of the high points hit. My 2 cents:

- Lots of missed plays could/would have swung the outcome of the game:

--- Luck's INT with zero points off the turnover right off the bat
--- Adam V's missed FG. Had CIN only been up by 1 instead of 4 at the end of the game, then play calling could have been different in order to only get in FG range instead of needing a TD. Sure, 55 yards is a long way but it was darn makable for him.
--- Terrible DPI call on Wilson
--- Doyle's fumble
--- At least once but I believe twice, Colts in 3rd down with 2 to go and Luck heave hoes the ball at least 20 yards downfield for incompletions. GET THE FIRST DOWN!
--- Multiple defensive penalities on one of CIN scoring drives gifting the TD in the 2nd half.

Any one of those situations become a Colts positive instead of a Colts negative and that ball game gets won.

- I love that Luck completed 3 or more passes to 7 different receivers. I was concerned that early on his return, he would force the ball to his safety blankets of Hilton and Doyle only.

- 3 tackles, 3 TFL, 2.0 sacks. That answers the question of why Marqus Hunt made the roster at DE.

- I wonder if a fully ready Walker at MLB makes any difference over Moore. Our middle was weak yesterday.

Walk Worthy,

Leonard’s a keeper but he’s literally the only one on defense, outside of Geathers and Hooker. At least, so far. Turay showed nothing. Basham shouldn’t be on the roster.

I guess Al Woods is ok. Him absolutely abusing Price on the int was my favorite play of the game.

That was a bad and uncharacteristic kick by AV, but it was 55 yards. That's a questionable coaching decision. May have been better going for it on 4th down. With a team with a poor D and a better, at least, O, I think we are going to have to take some gambles like that on 4th down to win games.

The first and last turnovers were the killers though. You can't get the ball in the red zone and not score. Happened twice, difference in the game and you can't blame the defense for that. Especially when you have a QB that is supposed to be one of the best in the league and a TE you just paid huge money to keep a year ago.

it was 4th and long, so that was unlikely. But they called a high risk high reward play there on the WR screen on 3rd down which went for 0 yards. A 5 yard gain up the middle would have been better. Wouldn't have got the first but would have been the difference in the miss.
It's asking a bit much to ask a 45 year old kicker to hit from 55. He hit all the others.

I thought it was 4th and medium, like 4 or 5, not long.

I liked seeing a competent game plan from a competent staff. I think Luck will thrive in this system. That said, I think we need to get used to seeing some bonehead decisions from Luck, its just in his nature to be aggressive and gets caught up in the moment on certain plays.

Hines could become a really nice weapon.

Defense is going to be an issue this year.

Play by play says it was 4th & 14. Hines ran for 4 yds on 1st, then Luck was sacked for an 8 yd loss on 2nd.

Seems they need to figure out what the tell is on some of the screens. IIRC there was another play earlier in the game where they dumped the RB (Hines I think) for a loss on a screen. For some reason Cincy was all over those two plays. Could have been lucky reads but they were blown up as well as you ever see screens blown up. Makes me think they weren’t exactly surprised. Anyone remember the other play I’m thinking of or am I mistaken?

Yes there were two at least, one early and one late, that were both like five yard losses. Both times the defender was all over the RB even before he caught it.

One of them at least I thought Luck should have just not even thrown it, just throw it away, he should have seen it wasn't going to work.

Spot on. Luck needs to kill screens if they're not there. That's something Brady, Rodgers etc. do but Luck doesn't seem to understand in terms of living to play another down.

Reminds me that Colts screens were largely disastrous yesterday, largely because OL was a tell every time. Hopefully coaching staff sees something that obvious. You gotta engage off the bat and THEN release or the defense is gonna read it every time.

ok so i watched again. a couple times this morning and had some more observations.

1) i originally hated the webb signing. i just thought he was useless and we needed to let one of the young guys play. well with good and ac hurt we were lucky to have him. i still think Clark would be the better play there but we got by with Webb and i will take it.

2) autry was terrible. that dude couldnt get by anyone. he should not be a starter. hunt played the role i thought autry would have and did it better. de early and moved inside some on passing downs. made himself known. although that rt was not very good.

3) oline interior was good. i had no issue with kelly. nelson had some issues at times but that is ok. it is to be expected. slauson was a needed get. i really like that we are letting smith sit. the veteran presence is much needed.

4) ebrons td celebration was dumb. i have a feeling he will annoy me when he makes plays. and i expect him to make plenty this year. i wonder if he was getting punished for the 2 penalties. he didnt seem to be in nearly as much later in the game.

5) hines releasing late or running routes on a lber is going to be fun to watch. big play in the 2nd half for a 1st down where he beat the lber over the middle and turned upfield. easy pass getting chunk yards after catch.

6) 3rd and 1 and we give the edge for a huge run by mixon. this happened a few times but this was just unforgiveable. keep having the de go inside the tackle with nobody containing the edge. this happened right before the huge dpi call on wilson. we have to be able to get this cleaned up.

7) stunts dont work. we just run around and create a huge pocket for the qb. looked very familiar.

8) grant needs to keep being that guy. a safety blanket for luck other than doyle for 1st downs or just short positive yards.

9) smart football keeping us in 3rd and short or intermediate. how many years did we constantly face 3rd and 10 or 3rd and 8. this was refreshing and smart offensive football.

10) on the long td to green i am not sure where the coverage was. looked like cover 4 but i couldn't really tell from the tv coverage. he was right down the middle between the safeties so i think i am right. regardless it was terrible coverage. hooker stood there flat footed while green just came storming by him.

11) on the dunlap sack. we bring smith in as a te and put him right by haeg. haeg then helps with nelsons guy for no reason while dunlap just burns right by smith on the edge. there is zero excuse to for smith to let that happen. it was disturbing how poorly executed that play was.

12) screens, no gap integrity, and just plainly getting dominated up front. just like old times.

13) i changed my mind on the 3rd and 2 to grant down the sideline. not bad to get that on tape. to show that we will go down the field on 3rd and short. plus it was there. just didn't execute.

14) lots of mistakes. it will be fun watching this defense and watching if they get more fundamentally sound. but they suck. especially that dline.

our defense wouldn't read it

That's what the play by play guy said. The kid signaled to the ref he was elgible.

Just wanted to add it would've been nice to see one of our lineman pull a Kyle Turley on that MF that gave Luck a shot to the back of his head

Agree. Our OL should’ve gone after him.

At least the Colts aren't getting beaten down and already giving up like the Lions are in their own house against the Jets. Crikey.

That's about dumb. They are short of linemen, how does getting thrown out of the game help protect luck?

it makes a statement.

i would be all for it.

Makes a statement that you are stupid. They are already short on offensive lineman. You get kicked out, you may be looking at a one game suspension. You drill that guy on a play later on when he's not expecting it. And you nail his ass all game long.

No you drill that guy right then and there. You don’t let dudes take shots at your qb

Nelson could have used it to establish himself as the unquestioned leader of this line / team - Luck less than 1/2 of a game into his career- go flying down there, pick the dude up and body slam him and put his hand to his ear and wave the other for noise as he left the field... defining moment.

Too many guys on their first contract--no one can afford to pay the fines yet. If Castonzo's out there? The young guys are all saying, "go get 'em, money bags".