People overreact to single games too much. Just like we were SB contenders after stomping the Titans. Teams have good and bad games, and usually one or two perfect games. The jags secondary and Calais Cambell had a good game, still they almost threw it away. Jags made some very dumb mistakes.

We have a rookie head coach, I don't think people understand that sometimes. That is a steep learning curve. Dungy came here with a lot of coaching experience. This is Reich's first gig. Also first time systems on both sides of the ball. I bet a lot of the guys still don't know the entire playbook b/c it seems to be pretty big. Everyone is excited by the playoffs and all the hype and attention. But we still need more talent, have a nice base and our franchise QB is back. We can build around that and we are also more attractive to FA's now.

o



(vs. TEXANS, 12/09)


The defense was robbed of a first-half shutout by the referees when they intercepted a ball, but were called for unnecessary roughness.

They essentially forced 6 Punts and had 1 INT in said 1st half.


They ceded a touchdown on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter, but followed that up by forcing punts on the Texans' next 2 possessions while the Colts' offense increased the team's lead.

The Texans scored another touchdown with a little over 2 minutes left to play, but the Colts's offense made the lead hold up by gaining 2 first downs to run out the clock.



11 TEXANS POSSESSIONS


8 Punts

3 TD's (1 of which was very questionable)


o

o


(vs. COWBOYS, 12/16)


There were a couple of games earlier this season in which I thought that the Colts' defense played better than what the scoreboard reflected ........ today, I thought that it was the opposite. Today, the scoreboard was a little kinder to the Colts' defense in comparison to how well they have actually played.

The Cowboys had 3 possessions in the first half, with drives of 10 plays, 15 plays, and 15 plays respectively ........ and came away with no points.

The defense played well ........ but the Cowboys also helped them out some, particularly in the 1st half.



7 COWBOYS POSSESSIONS


2 Punts

2 Turnover on Downs

1 INT

1 Fumble Recovery

1 Blocked Field Goal

o

I’m just stunned. I was sure without a stud pass rusher this team would struggle.

Im not so sure a pass rusher should be the teams priority in the draft. Maybe they should name Eberfus the asst head coach, a pay raise and keep him in town for awhile

They have a good rotation, but they still need that #1 guy that can wreck a game. That's the difference between this team and the elite teams right now.

Gotta say, I think you are out of your mind

The D right now is playing great and is well beyond any expectations I had for this season

My only hesitation is still the pass D with teams that have more than one good, reliable WR target. The last few weeks its been basically Amari Cooper or Deandre Hopkins and not much else. We could focus on then and shut down a pass offense

Add more variable for the pass and I think the D would still struggle.

Even so, like I said, well beyond any expectations for this season

Well let me throw this at you

I think the 3 tech is taken care of on this team and is much less a need than is an edge rusher. The CB position in this d does not need to be elite talent The LB are set with Leonard and Walker. The 3rd LB is not used very often in this D

Which leaves 2 positions of greatest need. Safety and Edge rush. So I don’t think Dam is at all crazy thinking DE is the most glaring need. But Safety is a very close second.

I disagree

De is biggest need but safety is on the back burner. We can stick with geathers and Farley for relatively cheap.

DE, DT, CB and WR are big needs

Completely agree. We've had sporadic success with designed blitzes, but part of the reason why offenses are able to maintain a good completion percentage against our zone schemes is because we're not getting consistent pressure when we only rush 4. We need that edge rush guy who makes life unpleasant for OTs on passing downs where we aren't blitzing.

After that, I'd actually say WR is the most pressing need. Ebron is great in the endzone but he is not a reliable possession target, and trying to use T.Y. as one is the quickest way to lose him for multiple games at a time. Besides, teams with man corners who can cover him (rare though they may be), do serious damage to our passing game. We need a viable 2nd option who can go up on a jump ball and win that battle against a CB or safety.