Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Colts' biggest X-factors that will define 2024 season | Sporting News
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The Indianapolis Colts are looking to build upon the promising things they showed in the first season under Shane Steichen.
The franchise hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2020 and the last time they won the AFC South was in 2014.
If that is going to change in 2024, they will need certain X-factors to go their way and take them to the next stage of the Steichen era.
MORE: Winners and losers from Colts’ offseason workouts
Whether it’s one player, a position group, or a coach, let’s take a look at the biggest X-factors for the Colts for the upcoming season:
Colts’ biggest X-factors in 2024
Anthony Richardson’s health and development
2024 for the Colts will be defined by Richardson’s health. Sure, they could be competitive with Joe Flacco as we saw what Shane Steichen did with Gardner Minshew in 2023. But having a healthy AR over a 39-year-old Flacco can be the difference that leads to Indianapolis ending their drought of winning the division.
The slight scare from Richardson resting during the minicamp last week is all the Colts hope they deal with his shoulder this year. Outside of health concerns, his development as a quarterback is just as important to this season’s success.
With more consistency in certain areas of his game, he can help elevate the passing attack as a threat to take the top off the defense with his arm while they have to respect what he can do with his legs. Richardson’s development as a passer can lead to a more explosive offense for the Colts.
Growth from young pieces in Colts secondary
If the Indy defense is going to take the next step in the third season under Gus Bradley, they will need the youth in the secondary to show some growth in 2024. It starts with the boundary cornerbacks, which is going to be a position battle between JuJu Brents, Dallis Flowers, and Jaylon Jones during the preseason.
The trio has faith from their defensive coordinator. Following the NFL draft, Bradley spoke about the competition between them.
“I think it’s really wide open,” Bradley said. “You have (Dallis Flowers) coming back and JuJu and JJ (Jaylon Jones). We really like that part of it. I think for us it’s the skillset, the length, the speed. Now it’s just the consistency. Who is going to step up and be that guy that takes the next step there as a corner?
Getting consistency from that part of the defense is what the Colts need and they are betting on a group of cornerbacks that don’t have a lot of experience to be the starting-caliber players they view them as.
Growth from their boundary corners isn’t the only part of the secondary that Indianapolis is leaning on in 2024, whether it is Nick Cross or Rodney Thomas II, they need whoever wins the free safety role to make an impact.
Cross showed some flashes towards the end of 2023. He has the skill set to develop into a starting-caliber player. The team has shown patience with him and hasn’t been pressed to sign a veteran despite losing Daniel Scott in OTAs.
Even if Chris Ballard elects to bring a veteran in at some point this summer, having Cross take the next step in his development will be vital because he still would work in the rotation and might be needed if said veteran had to miss any time.
The dynamic of an Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor backfield
Two snaps. That is all the Colts got to see Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor sharing the backfield at the same time in 2023. The electric playmaking ability the ground game can see from both players keeps your imagination running on what Shane Steichen’s offense will look like in 2024.
Not only do both help open rushing lanes for each other but the RPO game will be enhanced because of their presence as well as the play-action attack will lead to more explosive pass plays if teams start to load the box to slow down the rushing attack.
As long as AR and JT remain healthy, the offense has the potential to be a top-five offense in the NFL this season.
Charlie Partridge’s impact as defensive line coach
The Indy defensive front is deep and offers a lot of potential for the 2024 season. Despite the Colts finishing with 51 sacks in 2023, the fifth-most in the NFL and a franchise record, they elected to move on from Nate Ollie and hired Charlie Partridge as their new defensive line coach.
The long-time college coach was an assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the University of Pittsburgh. The lure of Partridge is his ability to develop players. He’s worked with players like J.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson.
“Look at his history of developing players,’’ Chris Ballard said. “This guy has coached some really good players and they all tell you he’s one of the best ones they’ve ever had.”
Outside of DeForest Buckner, you can point out certain areas each player on the defensive front could improve upon, and if Partridge can get that out of each of them then he can turn a good defensive front into an elite one.
In 2023 we saw Tony Sparano Jr. fix the offensive line in his first year with the Colts. While the defensive line doesn’t need to be fixed, Partridge can help elevate the defense by getting his defensive line to dominate every snap to help take the pressure off the young players in the secondary.
Anthony Gould and NFL’s new kickoff rule
Could a fifth-round pick already be an X-factor as a rookie? The NFL is looking to bring back kick returns with the new rule for kickoffs in 2024. Which is why Gould can end up making more of an impact than some of his draft classmates.
His 4.39 40-yard speed and experience as a returner (averaged 16.3 punt return yards) made him an ideal candidate for the new kickoff the league will see. This is something that Gould believes he can provide value to start his pro career.
“I think I can add a ton of value that way,” Gould said. “The way I look at it, it’s almost like a glorified punt. A lot of guys are going to be a lot closer in space, guys aren’t getting 20-, 25-yard head starts running towards you, so blocks are going to get picked up cleaner. It’s going to be interesting.”
Because of his electric playmaking ability with the ball in his hands, Gould’s returns could end up being a difference-maker in winning games for the Colts throughout the season.
For more Colts coverage, check out Cody Manning’s work on Sporting News.
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Indianapolis, IN
Indiana Grown: Simplicity Cold Pressed Juice & Cocktails
![Indiana Grown: Simplicity Cold Pressed Juice & Cocktails Indiana Grown: Simplicity Cold Pressed Juice & Cocktails](https://www.wishtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/31/BACKGROUND-Simplicity-juice.jpg)
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each and every Saturday, WISH-TV highlights a local company together with our partners at Indiana Grown.
This week, Beth Smith with Simplicity Cold Pressed Juice & Cocktails joins the show.
Simplicity, located off East 54th Street near the Gallery Pastry Shop in Broad Ripple, focuses on serving the community with drinks that contain “health and happiness” in every sip.
Smith shares her inspiration behind Simplicity, and explains how they “add in good” to each juice or cocktail drink. She also explains what makes cold-pressed juices different from other juices.
Simplicity’s drinks can be bought in-store or online. Watch the full interview above to learn more.
Indianapolis, IN
Neighbors fear theft ring responsible for missing Yorkies
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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Several Indianapolis dog owners say their Yorkies have gone missing and some fear a criminal theft ring could be responsible.
Peggy Allawat, 69, from the Castleton area, has had her 7-year-old Yorkie, named Lil’ Bit, for six years. He was stolen the evening of July 18 in front of her neighbor’s home. He had walked from Allawat’s yard to the neighbor’s yard when a home security camera caught a green SUV driving up to the house and seemingly snatching the dog.
“She came out, the neighbor said, ‘Is that your dog?’ The driver of the vehicle, said ‘Yes,’” Allawat said. “The passenger, which is a teenager, got out and took the dog, and they went right back out of the neighborhood and gone in less than three minutes.”
Allawat believes a woman and teenage girl were inside of the car.
Immediately after, Allawat contacted police and filed a report. According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, that investigation was ongoing. Her dog has a chip, leading her to reach out to that company.
The company could not provide a location for the dog, but did notify area veterinarians of the missing Yorkie.
Following filing the report and checking with the chip company, Allawat hung up signs around the city and began going live on Facebook every day demanding answers. As of Friday, she has been doing a daily video for 43 days.
The woman Allawat believes stole her dog contacted her after seeing some of her Facebook posts. She told Allawat she didn’t know that was her dog and that she had simply found Lil’ Bit. She also offered to return the dog, if given time.
That was over a month ago.
Through making live videos on Facebook, Allawat has received major support by hundreds of viewers. She’s also come across several others with stories like hers.
“It’s almost like we’re a network. I don’t know them,” Allawat said. “But, we reach out to each other, to say, ‘Hey, this is my dog,’ or ‘This is the car that took mine, is that the same car that took yours?’”
Several of those families have reached out to News 8 about their missing Yorkies.
One of those families owns a 10-year-old Yorkie named Carter.
He was also taken not too far from his family’s yard and has a collar with an address on it.
Allawat fears their experiences could only be scratching the surface.
“My thought is, whoever has him now, does not know that he’s stolen,” Allawat said.
She is focused solely on getting her dog back.
“Every day, every hour, every minute, she has caused the devastation,” Allawat said about the woman who stole her dog. “Do the right thing and give him back. He is stolen. He’s not yours. He’s our baby.”
Indianapolis, IN
Olympians Biles, Thomas continue Indy trip with visit to Lilly – Indianapolis Business Journal
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Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co. made a big marketing push for the Summer Olympics, including buying airtime to feature gymnast Simone Biles and her mother in ads for diabetes treatment Mounjaro.
They’ll always have Paris. But the relationship didn’t end there.
On Thursday, Biles and Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas surprised thousands of Lilly workers as featured speakers at a company-only event and discussed their successes through teamwork and dedication. Their appearance at Lilly’s downtown campus included a questions-and-answers session with employees.
Lilly is a sponsor of Team USA and has relationships with several American Olympic athletes to promote specific products and initiatives. Thomas has been featured in Lilly commercials focusing on eliminating health inequities.
Biles and her mother, Nellie, star in ads for Mounjaro, although Simone Biles doesn’t have diabetes or take the medicine for other uses. Nellie Biles is a diabetic but doesn’t take the drug.
On Wednesday evening, Biles and Thomas attended an Indiana Fever game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and posed for photos with the team after the Fever’s 84-80 victory over the Connecticut Sun.
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