Originally Posted by rm1369 (Post 213996)

Lost in all the debate about Reich is what I see as the true issue with this team. Here are the last 7 possession for TB:

TD (84 yd drive)
Kneel down - end of half
TD (65 yd drive)
TD (65 yd drive)
Punt - fumbled by Hines
FG (13 yds - off the fumble)
TD (75 yd drive)

Last 4 against Baltimore:

TD (75 yd drive)
TD (78 yd drive)
TD (75 yd drive)
TD (68 yd drive)

Yet I’m expected to believe the issue with this team is that Reich didn’t sprinkle in a few more runs? I’m sorry that’s BS. The Colts two best wins of the season were SF and Buffalo. One common theme I see in those games was that the defense was significantly aided by bad weather. Otherwise this D simply collapses. Look at the length of drives. Other than the Hines fumble on the punt (the only defensive stop from 5 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter) this is not a case of the D being constantly put in bad situations by the offense.

Reich seems to recognize something many Colts fans don’t - the defense sucks and the Colts best chance at winning is scoring points however that can be done. Not by getting a two score lead and milking the clock. It’s one of the reasons I agree with Reich almost every time he goes for it on 4th down. Because the Colts best shot at winning is by scoring points. The D excels at creating turnovers, otherwise decent offenses have their way with them. That is the primary reason this team is 6-6 not Reich’s play calling.

Originally Posted by ChoppedWood (Post 213999)

Agree, the D has consistently folded. There's a lot to put on Ballard there because the DE position has just consistently not gotten the job done leaving our backfield trying to cover for far too long. However when a guy nearly everyone lauds for his analysis in Venturi literally scoffs at the fact that we play a high school scheme, and this same SH!T defensive strategy is run out there every damn week, the bigger problem to me is clearly the DC. I hate his scheme, his near 100% reliance on Darius to make a play, and the incredible repetitive 70%+ completion rate of QB after QB against him.

Then again, Frank Reich is the HC, he has the power to sit down with him and demand we do something different. Oh, wait, Frank probably had no idea we played cover 2 for 87 plays straight, I bet no one told him.

Gut em' and start over!

Originally Posted by Oldcolt (Post 213986)

You seem to think that since Wentz was on fire we did the correct thing in keeping passing. Maybe you were being sarcastic and I totally missed it. My point was that going with the guy on fire got us a loss. I don't believe Wentz is good enough to carry a team like he is being asked or wants to, whatever is the case. I think we need to not pass 20 some odd times in a row, no matter how hot the qb is. The team has no identity.

Originally Posted by Oldcolt (Post 213991)

Puck I agree with you that if you qb is having a hot game you need to ride him more. I just think that we need to run the ball way more than we did if we want to be effective long term. Throwing like 26 times in a row isn't riding the hot hand. It is a whole new game plan. Lawrence Owen has a link to a podcast with D'Qwell Jackson on this site. He and Edge make the same point I am trying to make but do it much clearer and with more nuance than I do. We need to be more balanced. And it is not just about this game, it is about how the whole season has gone. When things get difficult we just do not have an identity to fall back on.

Originally Posted by Puck (Post 213980)

No idea what you are saying. Talk to me like I'm 5 yrs old

Originally Posted by ChoppedWood (Post 213994)

Oh I think there is an identity to this team. That identity is one of a megalomaniac smart guy that is dead set on proving he can beat teams with his play calling. It's costing us games over and over. But, ehhh, he's a really nice guy and good with the media so....

Originally Posted by Racehorse (Post 214020)

Nah, you aren't on the team

Originally Posted by ChoppedWood (Post 214030)

Oh, really, gonna do the you can't use "us" then. Next game thread, my expectation is every time someone says "we", you will add the disclaimer to their post assuring the readership that said poster is not on the team either. Thanks for the civic service.