Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Colts Offensive Line Holding Team Back?
The Indianapolis Colts have the NFL’s most costly offensive line. Basic supervisor Chris Ballard stated from the start the workforce can be constructed by the trenches. When it comes to general funding, there’s no denying that reality.
Nonetheless, with that asset allocation turns into an expectation of sustained success. Thus far this season, new quarterback Matt Ryan has been underneath fixed siege. Twelve sacks in three video games from Indianapolis’ offensive line is just inexcusable. Throwing within the pressures, Ryan gained’t be capable to survive a full 17-game season at this present tempo.
The place precisely are the difficulty spots alongside the offensive line? Quenton Nelson continues to be dominant up entrance, albeit just a few hiccups right here and there, however there’s critical questions arising throughout the remainder of the unit.
Proper deal with Braden Smith and middle Ryan Kelly proceed to not play as much as their present contract standing, which isn’t a superb signal. Smith’s struggles in opposition to speed-rushers proceed to point out up by the primary three weeks. In the meantime, Kelly is lacking blitz pick-ups with extra regularity than ever earlier than. For these two, it’s merely inexcusable.
Two new starters throughout the Colts’ offensive line headline an offseason crammed with modifications for the unit identified to be one of many league’s finest since 2018.
Matt Pryor, who was by no means a full-time starter heading into 2022, is now defending Ryan’s blindside. After a rocky first few weeks, Pryor bounced-back nicely in a pivotal Week 3 matchup in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. If Pryor is ready to quiet down and persistently deal with his one-on-one matchups, it would go a protracted method to lastly seeing some steady play throughout the road.
The largest challenge proper now for Indianapolis’ offensive line woes is third-year professional Danny Pinter. The hometown native who attended close by Ball State College, Pinter’s struggles at proper guard proceed to rear its ugly head. At this level, Pinter feels misplaced at guard after seeing his early success at middle spelling Kelly on occasion. Whether or not it’s in opposition to velocity or energy, Pinter is unable to carry up on a snap-by-snap foundation.
The place can the Colts go from right here if the offensive line struggles proceed ahead previous a must-win matchup on Sunday in opposition to the Tennessee Titans? There’s just a few routes that may be taken to repair it, however the first one is everybody performs to their normal.
Kelly and Smith must play at an elite degree, however Pryor and Pinter additionally must show the Colts proper by placing a lot belief in them all through the offseason. If the inconsistencies proceed, rookie Bernhard Raimann is ready within the wings as he develops inside an NFL power and conditioning program.
Raimann, the third-round pick of Central Michigan, seems in line to turn into the Colts’ long-term answer at left deal with. A simple answer right here might be Raimann taking up there whereas Pryor slides into Pinter’s spot at proper guard. After proving himself final season as a worthwhile swing piece alongside the Colts’ offensive line, that appears like Indianapolis’ finest shot to steer the ship in the best course.
Sunday’s matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium versus the Titans will inform us rather a lot about whether or not the unit will stabilize. If a month straight of damaging play exits that matchup, it’s completely honest to wonder if it’s time to vary some issues up.
Extremely sufficient, the Colts’ disappointing 1-1-1 begin falls again upon the unit the group has invested essentially the most sources in. The true spine of the Colts is failing them, and it could possibly’t proceed any longer in the event that they need to lastly break by as AFC South champions.
Indianapolis, IN
Two men arrested in Lasalle Street homicide investigation
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Two men have been taken into custody for their roles in a fatal shooting that happened Friday on Indianapolis’ east side.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were dispatched around 7 a.m. Friday to the 3600 block of North Dearborn Street to investigate shots fired.
They found evidence of shots being fired, but couldn’t find a victim. They later located two men shot just a few blocks away in the 3500 block of North Lasalle Street.
The men were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Police say one man was not shot and only had a laceration, but unfortunately, the other victim was pronounced shortly after arriving at the hospital.
IMPD identified the man on Monday as 25-year-old Jasper Dugan.
Officers continued their investigation and identified two suspects, Jesse Williams, 27, and Royeon Spells, 22. Both men were later arrested.
Police say the Marion Count Prosecutor’s Office will make the final charging decisions.
Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact Det. David Miller at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or by email at David.Miller2@indy.gov.
Indianapolis, IN
What Colts’ Shane Steichen said when asked if Joe Flacco will remain QB: ‘Right now, yes’
MINNEAPOLIS — The Colts made a seismic, difficult decision to bench young, developmental quarterback Anthony Richardson and start 39-year-old Joe Flacco at the game’s most important position.
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen cited one reason above all else for the move.
The Colts coach believed Flacco gave his team the best chance to win now.
Flacco’s first game in the starting role did not necessarily provide evidence to reinforce that belief. Indianapolis took a 21-13 loss at the hands of the Vikings on NBC’S “Sunday Night Football,” largely because the offense turned in arguably its worst performance of the season.
Indianapolis picked up a season-low 227 yards, failed to score a touchdown and could not capitalize despite a defense that forced three turnovers. Kenny Moore II provided the Colts’ lone touchdown on a 38-yard scoop-and-score of a Grover Stewart strip-sack in the first half.
In light of the team’s struggles, Steichen was asked if Flacco will still be the Indianapolis starting quarterback.
“Right now, yes,” Steichen said.
The Colts head coach was also asked if he still believes Flacco gives the team the best chance to win.
“Right now, yes,” Steichen said.
Flacco struggled against Minnesota’s defense.
Indianapolis largely handled the Vikings blitz-happy scheme, refusing to allow a sack until the final, last-ditch drive. Even with time to throw, Flacco completed just 16 of 27 passes for 179 yards, and he threw a back-breaking interception in the second half on a key third down.
The Colts have also struggled with Richardson at the helm. Richardson has completed a league-worst 44.4% of his passes, thrown seven interceptions and posted a league-worst quarterback rating of 57.2, but he has a penchant for the explosive play.
The move to Flacco was supposed to stabilize the Indianapolis offense.
Instead, it ground to a halt, leading to some of the same problems that have been there all season. Indianapolis could not keep drives going, leading to Minnesota holding the ball for 36:54, a time of possession that allowed the Vikings to take advantage of a tired Colts defense in the end.
With that in mind, Steichen was asked if the shifts back and forth from Richardson to Flacco to Richardson to Flacco have hampered the offense’s ability to build an identity.
“I don’t think so,” Steichen said. “You just go, it’s like with any position. You’ve got to roll and get the next guy up. Obviously, Joe went in there tonight for us.”
Steichen did not place much blame at Flacco’s feet after the game.
In typical fashion, Steichen put most of the blame on himself.
“We’ll go back and look at it,” Steichen said. “There might have been a few completions here and there that he could have had, but again, he’s a calm guy that’s been playing at a high level for a long time. Obviously, a lot of faith in him.”
Indianapolis, IN
Caitlin Clark sits near Travis Kelce at Taylor Swift concert in Indianapolis
Caitlin Clark had essentially the same view as Travis Kelce during Taylor Swift’s second “Eras Tour” show in Indianapolis on Saturday.
Clark, who just won the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award after the Fever selected her No. 1 overall in this year’s draft, sat in the same box as Kelce — Swift’s boyfriend — and was one row behind the Chiefs’ star tight end, according to Fieldhouse Files.
It marked the second consecutive night Clark attended Swift’s concert, as she posted “IM FIRED UP!!!!!!!” from her seat on Friday.
Clark’s mother also attended the Saturday performance, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Photos from Lucas Oil Stadium captured Clark exchanging friendship bracelets with fans, and before the second show, she posted, “So back” on her Instagram story.
It was a fitting overlap between Swift and Clark, as basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman said in September that Clark is the “Taylor Swift of women’s basketball right now” — as the sellouts and ratings records that helped define her collegiate career with Iowa carried over into her first WNBA season.
“Her fans are like ‘Swifties,’” Lieberman said during a SiriusXM appearance. “They’re extraordinarily loyal. And in every arena you go into, half the people there are her fans wearing her jerseys. She’s a media superstar, but damn, she’s backed it up every step of the way.”
Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game to help the Fever overcome a slow start to the season and earn the No. 6 seed in the playoffs, but that didn’t stop Indiana from making a coaching change in the offseason — firing Christie Sides and hiring former Sun coach Stephanie White.
She coached the Fever in 2015 and 2016, and when White played for Indiana during her WNBA career, she wore the No. 22 that Clark wore at Iowa and also donned during a 2024 campaign where she rewrote the record books for plenty of rookie and league marks.
Kelce had a break in his Chiefs schedule to attend with Kansas City hosting the Buccaneers on Monday in Week 9, attempting to remain undefeated in their quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl win.
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