The Indianapolis Colts’ fanbase was in near unanimous agreement that Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley had to be fired at the end of the season following the team’s 37-34 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in week five. Amid the Colts’ own offensive turmoil in the month since that game, Bradley has quietly figured out a winning formula with his defense since that disaster.
The Colts’ defense has been on a steady roll these past four games, ranking as the 8th-best defense in terms of EPA/play, the 9th-best defense in drop back EPA, and the 10th-best defense in rush EPA. While it could be easy to attribute this success to games against Will Levis and Tyler Huntley, the Colts also managed to hold the Minnesota Vikings and the Houston Texans below their usual offensive averages in EPA/play (and rank 6th in EPA/play in general as a defense the past two weeks).
Colts’ defense in the month since that disaster in Jacksonville
8th best defense in EPA/play 9th best in dropback EPA 10th best in rush EPA
Still allowing a bit too many yards but they’ve shifted to a a bend don’t break style and have found some success this past month
There are a lot of contributing factors to the Colts’ defensive rebound over the past month. It helps to have back-to-back get-right games against vulnerable offenses like the Tennessee Titans and the Miami Dolphins to kick off the stretch, and the momentum built up from those games has carried over into big contests against playoff-bound opponents.
Another factor that has contributed to the Colts’ success has been the return of DeForest Buckner to the lineup. Buckner has been back in the lineup for the Colts’ last two outings, logging four hurries, three quarterback hits, and two sacks since returning to the field. His elite presence on the interior has paved the way for the rest of the Colts’ defensive line returning to their early season expectations.
The final massive factor in this defensive growth in none other than Gus Bradley himself. Once the old dog that would never learn a new trick, Bradley has changed this defense up a good bit in recent weeks. A man known for his lack of aggression and for sitting back in cover three all day long has shifted to more of a blitz-heavy cover two defense in recent weeks.
Gus Bradley’s defense the past two weeks against playoff caliber teams.
33% blitz rate 51% pressure rate 6 sacks 4 turnovers forced 22 points allowed per game
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Not perfect by any means but two competitive, disruptive games from Indy’s defense vs. good teams
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This shift for the Colts’ defense is eerily similar to the style of play that Matt Eberflus once deployed in his time as the Colts’ defensive coordinator. Sit back in cover two shells, eliminate the vertical passing game, pressure the quarterback, and force turnovers. The Colts have forced seven turnovers in their past four games and they lead the league in fumbles recovered as a defense with nine this season.
The smartest aspect of this adjustment for Bradley is playing to the strengths of his linebacker group. Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed are fine run chasers that can ROBOT back against play-action, but they are at their best playing downhill and attacking what is in front of them. This blitz-heavy, cover-two approach from Bradley has allowed the Colts’ linebacker duo (along with Grant Stuard in base sets) to be in attack mode on passing downs and get after opposing quarterbacks.
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Gus Bradley was drawing up some fun blitz designs this past Sunday. I’ll always maintain that he is one of the better DCs in the league when it comes to drawing these up pic.twitter.com/mvrXApXK1l
Even when the Colts are getting into some cover three looks, the secondary has shown fantastic growth this season in their zone recognition and assignment integrity. Nick Cross has developed some pretty good instincts this year and Jaylon Jones (despite the rough game on Sunday night) has flashed playmaking ability.
This interception by Cross might be one of the more instinctual plays in zone coverage from a Colts’ player the past few seasons.
Really nice feel in zone coverage by Nick Cross as the curl/flat defender here. Recognizes the Vikings playcall behind him and sinks into the throwing window down the field.
There are even more wrinkles that Bradley has thrown in this season to hide the flaws of this defensive group, including mixing in three safety sets on passing downs to get more coverage players on the field. This unit still has some issues to iron out, but Bradley has done a good job adjusting to his personnel and finding an answer in this past month of play.
There is work to be done with this defense overall. Run defense is a bit leaky and some of the middle passing windows are far too uncontested for opposing offenses. That being said, there has at least been steady improvement on that side of the ball from the coaching staff and from the players on the field, something that can’t be said for the Colts’ offense in this past month of play.
Bradley may be the odd man out after the season, but he deserves credit for adjusting the defense after the Jacksonville disaster. His unit has been playing fast, hungry, and forcing turnovers in recent weeks, which has given the Colts’ offense a chance to win games. This is winning-caliber defense from Bradley of late, now it’s on Shane Steichen and the Colts’ offense to return the favor going forward.
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On Thursday morning, ahead of the team’s Week 12 matchup with the Detroit Lions, the Indianapolis Colts announced a pair of practice squad moves.
The Colts will be bringing back a familiar face in offensive lineman Mark Glowinski and released cornerback Tre Flowers as the corresponding move in order to make room for this addition.
Glowinski is an experienced player, appearing in 124 career games, which includes 96 starts. He was with the Colts specifically from 2017-2021, along with also playing in Seattle from 2015-2017 and most recently with the New York Giants in 2022-2023.
Of Glowinski’s 124 NFL games, 59 came with the Indianapolis Colts.
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Glowinski has spent most of his NFL career playing right guard, but did spend some time at left guard with the Giants last season.
Most recently, he would go on to play 520 offensive snaps during the 2023 season, allowing six sacks and 17 pressures, although he graded out decently well as a run-blocker, according to PFF’s metrics.
The Colts are stockpiling offensive linemen on the practice squad, with Glowinski now the fifth member of that position group.
As of Thursday morning, left tackle Bernhard Raimann was on the Wednesday injury report as a non-participant as he still deals with a knee injury and right tackle Braden Smith was listed as a limited participant with a foot injury.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A charity of billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, have given a $2.5 million grant to an Indianapolis-based nonprofit health care provider that helps communities that are underserved and people who are homeless.
HealthNet Inc. announced the grant Wednesday in a news release. Kay Wiles, director of HealthNet’s Homeless Initiative Program, said in a statement that the money will help the nonprofit “refashion services for families, reducing the time they experience homelessness” in Indianapolis.
A news release from HealthNet said, “Specifically, HealthNet plans to use its funds to implement a ‘no wrong door’ approach for families experiencing homelessness. With an entry point team versed in housing problem-solving and the array of resources available to help families rapidly exit homelessness, HealthNet will increase family housing stability planning, streamlined connections to housing solutions, and creative collaboration among family shelter providers. These funds will have permanent impact.”
HealthNet has at least eight health centers in Indianapolis, and a location in Bloomington.
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The release also cited a 2024 report that says 34 affordable housing units are available for every 100 low-income households in Indiana, and 76% of Hoosiers spend more than half their income on housing.
Bezos, the founder of Amazon, for seven years has given grants to organizations working with families that are homeless. Experts on family homelessness helped chose recipients of grants from Bezos; Day 1 Families Fund. Bezos and Sánchez have been in a relationship for five years, getting engaged in May 2023. Sánchez said Wednesday morning in a media interview she’s in the midst of wedding planning.
INDIANAPOLIS — The snow-free streak in Indianapolis will come to an end Thursday.
Can you remember the last time we had measurable snow? It was on February 16, 2024. This was 278 days ago. Many may remember this was the start of the NBA All-Star Game weekend in Indy.
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It snowed 3.9″ that day, which was nearly half of last winter’s snow total. We had just 8.2″ of snow for the season of December 2023 plus January and February 2024.
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A normal winter would see about 21.2″ of snow. Winter 2024 tied as the 23rd least snowy winter in Indianapolis history.
Just trace amounts of snow fell in March and April 2024.
Snow is likely on Thursday. It’s been a while since Indy has seen snow, so here are a few reminders, specifically relating to your car.
Remember to add an emergency kit to your car with items like:
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A flashlight
A blanket
Warm clothes
Food
Water
Jumper cables
Scraper
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Jamie Freeman, the service manager at York Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Plainfield, says this is also a good time to ensure your car is ready for winter.
“Make sure your wipers are working; make sure there’s no streaking,” he recommends. “Make sure that the car’s getting hot, your heat’s working.”
Freeman also suggested checking your car batteries, coolant, and tires before you hit the road.
Continue to check back for forecast updates, especially relating to snow totals, for Thursday.
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