Colts-Redskins quick thoughts
 

1. What a totally unexpected, unreal defensive performance. I was never really scared of Adrian Peterson, but I never trusted this defense either. That might have been the most physically dominant DL performance since the Freeney/Mathis/Brock days, and the most physically dominant overall defensive performance since CIN in the playoffs.

2. Darius Leonard is just EVERYWHERE. I don't remember the Colts LB I've seen like that. He's really surprised me by how technically sound he is too. His tackling technique is great. That was supposed to be the knock.

3. It's crazy to watch Margus Hunt out there. Dude is just rocking OL. Consistently. Last week, I thought: oh, Bobby Hart just sucks. But two weeks in a row Hunt has just obliterated OL. It's honestly mind-boggling to watch.

4. Also huge credit to Sheard, who was similarly dominant and multi-present today, and Ward for stepping in for Ridgeway and picking up a solo-earned sack. It almost seemed like, no matter who it was, the DL was consistently BLOWING UP the Washington OL. I've seen the Colts bend the edge against OLs before, but I don't know if I've ever seen them just destroy an OL like they did today. They were consistently in the backfield before or as handoffs were being exchanged...

5. That said, the defense still has some weak spots. They're not great at defending screens, and their DBs get in a bit of trouble when they start going press-man. Though I'm glad they varied it a bit today, because I think just going soft zone vs Smith is a bad plan.

6. I bet we learn that's a calf tear for Hassan Ridgeway and he's out 4-6 weeks.

7. This is about the Colts primarily, but I was REALLY impressed with Mason Foster for WAS. Were it not for Foster, I honestly think it's a total blowout.

8. On the other side of the ball: it was a great first 1.5 quarters for Andrew Luck, then mostly downhill from there. He's gotta get that "1 dumb INT per game" outta his system again. Bad old habits there. He was lucky he wasn't picked a few more times too. Forced a few.

9. Le'Raven Clark held up better than I thought he would. Credit to the kid.

10. I think Matt Slauson limits what this offense can do to a certain extent. He might be a good cultural leader, but his game is meh at best.

11. I think Reich got a little too predictable with his playcalling basically from Quarter 1.5 through Quarter 3. Too much running into loaded fronts, too little creative use of playmakers, too much telegraphing screens or swing passes. This team really needs to clean up these stretches where the offense goes 0-fer for quarters at a time.

12. THIS IS HOW YOU USE TY HILTON. Let him run a few deep routes that at least draw some PI, and then use him in the stack/rub/crosser game. He's ELITE at both. He knows how to rub a defender without drawing OPI, and he can free up as good as anyone. That final TD playcall to Hilton took full advantage of this and was brilliant.

13. Super impressed with Ryan Grant today. The statline was just OK (Luck shoulda gone to him more, IMO), but he had a block and a rub that really sprung major plays. He's just a smart player. I think the Colts need to upgrade WR2 in the next 2 years, but you can absolutely run this offense with Grant, and he'll get you to the spots you gotta be in.

14. I'm still not huge on this thing where the team benches Eric Ebron for the second half. I didn't think Hewitt was THAT valuable of an asset on the field, and I think the team continues to overrate Doyle. I think Ebron unlocks plays no one else can populate and gives you options you wouldn't otherwise have. I know his blocking is poor, but is Hewitt's really THAT great to warrant the complete tradeoff, or is Doyle really THAT balanced either way?

15. Pierre Desir should be a starting boundary corner, period.

16. I think Marlon Mack is still hurt. He had a few runs he normally woulda taken for 20+ that ended up going for 6 or so. Couldn't bounce at his normal speed, couldn't break tackles he normally does.

17. ...but I think Jordan Wilkins continues to be better than advertised. I keep forgetting he's quicker than I think he is.

18. And Nyheim Hines had as impressive a TD run from a Colts RB I've seen in some time. The balance was unreal. I wish the team would have used him more creatively in the passing game today.

19. This offense still has issues telegraphing screens. The defense is never fooled.

20. Today would have been a perfect day for Tyquan Lewis to be healthy. Sigh.

Disreguard

Wilkins was great. No fancy nonsense, just down hill

I love this offense. They were NOT predictable

The bend but dont break D will make me crazy, but Ill adjust

I had to add this. They ran for 100+, I love that!

The arrow is ticking upward for this team.

Leonard

17 tackles
15 solo
1 sack
1 FF

https://twitter.com/Colts/status/104...663268864?s=19

Just crazy!

https://twitter.com/Colts/status/1041424462179127297

and one more from Leonard
https://twitter.com/Colts/status/1041420820147568641

There was one play where Darius Leonard, on a throw over the middle 25 to 30 yards downfield, was right there when the pass was completed, as the middle linebacker. He is the best MLB the Colts have had in at least two decades.

The prior MLBs couldn't cover 5 yards downfield.

That was a great play call on the last TD.

Luck still forces some throws. Hopefully if the D keeps playing well and he realizes he doesn't have to score every time, he stops doing that

The whole RB group was great today. Amazing effort on the run TD.

I also don't understand why Ebron was not in more in the second half. And not just because he is on my fantasy team

The D is still soft on short yardage throws and pass D, but they are getting more of a pass rush than I expected. Its just hit and miss, not consistent. Some plays still way too much time

Hunt looks amazing so far.

Castonzo being back will really help this OL

Shocked that Peterson did not do more today

The offense still looks completely lost on screen plays.

Overall though have to be happy at 1-1 after two weeks and with what we saw today.

Could be tied at the top of the division after today

One thing that can't be denied is that this staff understands & knows how to design plays for a modern offense. Also the blitz design that got Leonard free on a big sack was outstanding. The old staff was using crayons & a coloring book. I also think we caught a break when McDickhead backed out.

Basham a healthy scratch. Maybe effort is more important than scheme fit sometimes.

That said it's hard not to get excited for the way the DL played today. There's something to the Marinelli DL and I need to watch it more. Good to see Eberflus implementing it.

Leonard is a breath of fresh air. Already on his way toward being one of the best Colts LBs in modern history.

I really did not believe in Hunt after last week. I thought it was just a guy playing above his head against his former team and taking advantage of a bad tackle. Can he keep up this level of play?

This has been my biggest takeaway from the first two weeks of this season compared to the previous 5ish season. As far as breaking down and really analyzing the Xs and Os of football goes, I'm not great. But I have noticed a very noticeable difference in play calls, play design, and overall crispness of execution.