The Colts' Defense, 2023 Season
 

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(vs. JAGUARS, 9/10)


Our boys made 9 stops overall.

They bailed out the offense near the end of the 1st half, when Jackson fumbled and the defense pushed the Jaguars out of FG-range with back-to-back losses on 2nd and 3rd downs.

They again bailed out the offense in the 2nd half when the offense was stopped on 4th down near the middle of the field, and DeForest Buckner scored a TD on a fumble return after sacking Trevor Lawrence 2 plays later.

Unfortunately, the Colts turned the ball over yet again in the 4th quarter on an INT ...... the Jaguars converted this into what turned out to be the game-clinching TD which put them up by 10 points with just over 4 minutes left to play.




Possessions: lll..... 14

Punts: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 5

INT's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 1

Fumbles: llllllllllllllllllllll. 1

TO on Downs: llllllllll, 2

TD's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 4

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 1

o

They also turned the ball over on downs, passing up 2 FGs

No wonder they were gassed in the 4th. 14 possessions is a shit ton. Secondary still needs help though.

o


Excellent point ...... late in the 2022 season, the average number of possessions-per-game for a team in the NFL was 10.9.

22 years earlier (in 2000), the average was 11.9 ...... one full possession more than in 2022, but still 2 full possessions less than what the Jaguars had this past Sunday.


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I got that information from the following article, which was written in December of 2022 (13 games into the 17-game regular season.)



NFL Games Have Never Been Closer ...... Here’s Why

(By Josh Hermsmeyer)

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features...ser-heres-why/

o

There is no help coming unless Juju gets up to speed with the rest of the guys. But Lawrence made some indefensible throws in the game. I thought Baker had good coverage, but you can’t defend the perfect throw.

Those extra possessions came in the 2nd half, too. After that damn punt in the 4th qtr (still can't get over that bounce), JAX had a 10-play drive. Then AR throws an INT 14-seconds later. Three plays later, Etienne with the backbreaker.

Zay Jones' TD was ridiculous, Engram on the sideline was dirty, and the Ridley catch when Moore and Baker collided makes you toss your hands up.

Defense was solid. The offense couldn't keep up with them. Yeah, deja vu from last season, but now that there's hope at the QB position I'm not as irritated.

o


(vs. TEXANS, 9/17)


Our boys made 5 (6) stops overall (I consider a missed 51-yard field goal attempt to be a stop ...... if the miss were from inside of 40 yards, then I would consider it to be lucky.)

The 6th and final "stop" was made after the game had already been decided, and the clock ran out.

Unlike last week when the Jaguars had 14 possessions, the Texans only had 9 possessions when it counted, and 1 additional 10th possession after the game had already been decided.




Possessions: lllllll,, 9 (10)

Punts: lllllllllllllllllllllllll,, 3

Fumbles: llllllllllllllllllllll 1

Missed FG: lllllllllllllll) 1

Clock Ran Out llllllll 1

TD's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 2

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 2

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They need a shitload of help.

Terrible coverage against the Texans, just fucking terrible.

I was surprised when I looked up the TOP in the 4th. Texans finished the game with 23 more plays than us and a 35:00-25:00 TOP advantage.

o


(vs. RAVENS, 9/24)


The Ravens scored a TD on their first possession of the game, and were driving deep in Colts territory on their 2nd possession, but the Ravens fumbled the ball away for a turnover ...... subsequently, what looked like might be a long afternoon for the Colts' defense wound up being a solid overall outing for the 3rd consecutive game.

The boys got 11 stops out of 14 possessions overall, including a missed 61-yard FG.




Possessions: lllllll, 14 (15)

Punts: llllllllllllllllllllllllll, 7

Fumbles: llllllllllllllllllll) 2

TO on Downs: lllllllly 1

MISSED FG: llllllllllllllll 1

Clock Ran Out llllll, 1

TD's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 2

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll. 1

o

This was an overall very good showing by the Colts defense against Lamar Jackson. Gus Bradley's use of pressure to throw Lamar off worked very well pretty frequently.

o


(vs. RAMS, 10/01)


I'm going to comment before the game over, which is very rare for me for this particular thread, but ) Eugene Speed ) costing the defense a stop and 7 points right off the bat on the very first drive of the game was indefensible.

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That said, I remind myself that it's a team game, and Speed is part of the team.

So any mistakes that an individual player makes ...... now matter how bone-headed and indefensible ...... comes with the overall package of that player being a part of the team.

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(vs. TITANS, 10/08)


In the loss to the Jaguars in Week 2, Jacksonville had 14 possessions ...... today against the Titans, Tennessee had 7 possessions !!! ) :eek:




Possessions: lllllllll, 7

Punts: lllllllllllllllllllllllllll, 1

INT's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllll. 1

TO on Downs: lllllllllll 1

TD's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 1

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 3

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Zaire Franklin, who is on pace to shatter the all-time record of 214 tackles in a single season set by ) Hardy Nickerson ) in 1993, stops Derick Henry on a crucial 4th down at the Colts' 5-yardline in the 4th quarter of the Colts' win over the Titans on Sunday.





https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/A4...122734d6ec950b

o

Truth be told, by almost every metric, on the season the defense has been mediocre.

3rd down pct 3rd most
4th down pct 12th most
penalty yds 11th most
pts against 11th most
rush yds pg 13th most
pass yds pg 5th most
overall ypg 4th most
turnovers 11th least

We are improving, but taken into context we have not faced any truly elite offenses yet.

My dad used to say 'liars figure and figures lie'. This defense is the first on we have had in years that can consistently get pressure on the QB. You cannot win in the playoffs against the QBs we will face without that. It is really good to see finally. We stop the run, when healthy, when it counts. With the corner backs inexperience, and losing the only one with 'experience', I think we have done great. Those CB's have shown something and should only improve over the year. All in all we have been average but most of us would take average as a whole given how young we are in the back field. They are young and should be a much better group with 17 games under their belt. Add to that that we finally have our franchise QB (everyone seems to think this if the reaction to his being injured by the national media is any indication-they think it has buried us) things look pretty damn good for us.

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Film Room: The Colts' Defense Is Scary Good


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubLircVeuk

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Perhaps the most impressive feet that the Colts' defense has accomplished so far in this still very-young season is when they made 2 ...... TWO ...... stops in the final 2 minutes of the 4th quarter in the loss to the Rams.

After forcing a 3-and-out to get the ball back for the Colts' offense to try ton win the game, the offense failed to get into field-goal range. They had to punt the ball back to the Rams with more than a minute still left on the clock, and they had to stop them again (which they did.)




1:56 ) Matthew Stafford pass complete short right to Tyler Higbee for 5 yards (tackle by Julian Blackmon)

1:52 ) Matthew Stafford pass complete short left to Tutu Atwell for 5 yards (tackle by Kenny Moore) Replay Assistant challenged the pass completion ruling, and the original play was overturned. Matthew Stafford pass incomplete short left intended for Tutu Atwell (defended by Kenny Moore)

1:48 ) Matthew Stafford pass complete short left to Tyler Higbee for 8 yards Replay Assistant challenged the pass completion ruling, and the original play was overturned. Matthew Stafford pass incomplete short left intended for Tyler Higbee (defended by E.J. Speed)

1:44 ) Ethan Evans punts 48 yards, returned by Isaiah McKenzie for 13 yards (tackle by Royce Freeman and Christian Rozeboom)


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The Colts Offense ) 3-and-out (PUNT)


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1:09 ) Matthew Stafford pass complete short left to Tutu Atwell for 5 yards (tackle by Zaire Franklin)

0:54 ) Matthew Stafford pass complete short right to Puka Nacua for 6 yards (tackle by Julius Brents)

0:41 ) Matthew Stafford pass incomplete deep left intended for Van Jefferson (defended by Dallis Flowers)

0:30 ) Matthew Stafford scrambles up the middle for 8 yards (tackle by Kenny Moore and Zaire Franklin)

0:15 ) Timeout #3 by Los Angeles Rams

0:15 ) Matthew Stafford pass incomplete short left intended for Tutu Atwell

0:11 ) Ethan Evans punts 35 yards, fair catch by Isaiah McKenzie at IND-18

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While I agree the individual statistics don't tell the whole story. But in their totality they give you a pretty good idea where we are at the moment. I believe we will play better against the Jags than the 1st meeting and if that's the case, we face some offenses in the coming weeks that are nothing special in Cleveland, New Orleans, Carolina and New England. The defense should be able to feast on those teams.

o


(vs. JAGUARS, 10/15)



Possessions: lllllllll 12

Punts: lllllllllllllllllllllllllll, 4

INT's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllll, 1

TD's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll) 4

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 3

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In short we suck!

o


(vs. BROWNS, 10/22)




Possessions: llll.... 15

Punts: llllllllllllllllllllllll,y. 5

INT's: llllllllllllllllllllllll,,y 2

TO on Downs: llllllllll. 1

TD's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 3

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 4

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(OCTOBER 26th)



Why the Colts Aren’t Looking To Move Kenny Moore II Out of the Slot

(By J.J. Stankevitz)

https://www.colts.com/news/kenny-moo...radley-defense

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(vs. SAINTS, 10/29)


This was the defense's worst game of the season.




Possessions: lll..... 11

Punts: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 4

Fumbles: llllllllllllllllllllll. 1

TD's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, 5

FG's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll. 1

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(vs. PANTHERS, 11/05) )





Possessions: llllll)) 11

Punts: lllllllllllllllllllllllll)) 4

INT's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllll) 3 l 2 (Pick-6's)

TO on Downs: lllllllllll 1

TD's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 1

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 2

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(NOVEMBER 6th)


Indianapolis leads the NFL with 55 tackles for a loss this season.




SOURCE: ) StampedeBlue.com

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(NOVEMBER 6th)



Kenny Moore Wasn’t the Only Colts Cornerback to Have a Good Showing in Week 9


With the Panthers primarily playing 11 personnel (one back, one tight end, three wide receivers), the Colts trotted out a cornerback trio of Moore in the slot and Jaylon Jones/Darrell Baker Jr. on the outside. Jones and Baker were targeted 13 times and allowed eight receptions for 40 yards, and they both notched a pass break-up.

Jones earned an 85.9 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, while Baker's checked in at 79.0.

For Baker in particular, Sunday's game is something on which he can build. Baker held Young to a 56.3 passer rating in coverage, and Panthers receivers averaged 4.8 yards per reception. Prior to Week 9, Baker allowed a 121.0 passer rating and 16.4 yards per reception when targeted.

We'll see where cornerback JuJu Brents is heading into Week 10 – he's missed the last two games with a quad injury – but both Jones and Baker will head to Germany coming off solid games against the Panthers.


https://www.colts.com/news/kenny-moo...pdate-panthers

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(vs. PATRIOTS, 11/12) )



The Patriots had 9 possessions for the entire game.



Possessions: llllllll) 9

Punts: llllllllllllllllllllllllll) 4

INT's: llllllllllllllllllllllllll) 2

Missed FG: lllllllllllly) 1

FG's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll) 2

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Last week, we were missing BOTH Zaire Franklin AND Juju Brents.

This week we got Franklin back, but Brents was still out with a quadriceps injury ...... if we can get Brents back in 2 weeks on November 26th, this defense could be a formidable adversary for opposing offenses.

o

We need Grover back too.

o


(NOVEMBER 13th)



Dayo Odeyingbo Has Silently Been a Top Defensive Linemen for the Colts All Season

(By Jaleel Grandberry)

https://horseshoeheroes.com/posts/da...s-01hf53m1sfh4

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(vs. BUCCANEERS, 11/26) )



The Buccaneers had 10 possessions for the entire game.



Possessions: lllll)l 10

Punts: lllllllllllllllllllllllllll 4

INT's: llllllllllllllllllllllll), 1

Fumbles: llllllllllllllllllll. 1

TD's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 2 ) (1 of which was on a very short field)

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 2

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Surging Colts Pass Rush Is Tied for 6th in NFL in Sacks, Fueling Playoff Hopes

(By Joel A. Erickson)

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...e/71713012007/

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(vs. TITANS, 12/03)


Although the Colts technically had 1 turnover today, it wound up being meaningless because of the fact that they gave the ball right back to the Titans on the same play ...... nonetheless, it still counts in the final tally of possessions, albeit with an asterisk/explanation in parenthesis.

Also, I'm going to count the 2nd blocked punt as a punt, even though it was technically ruled a fumble ...... the Titans lined up to punt, and the result of the play (the fumble) was from the special teams, not the defense.



Possessions: llllll, 14

Punts: lllllllllllllllllllllllll) 8

Fumbles: lllllllllllllllllllll 1 ) (Given right back to the opponent on the same play)

TD's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 3

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 2

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(vs. BENGALS, 12/10) )





Possessions: llllll,) 11

Punts: lllllllllllllllllllllllll,) 4

INT's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllll, 1 l (Pick-6)

TD's: lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 4

FG's: llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, 2

o

Colts are the worst D in the AFC.
Points allowed is what loses football games.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not a very good showing, but not very good anywhere on the team today.

o


If the Colts are the worst defense in the AFC, then the Colts' scintillating offense led by Gardner Minshew is the reason why they have 7 wins ...... if the Colts' offense wasn't constantly bailing out the horrible defense, the Colts would have a record of 2-11.

o