A few thoughts on the Seahags loss
 

This is probably my #1 takeaway.

We beat KC for sure if SS were as committed to the run in that game as he was against SEA.

We beat HOU for sure if SS were as committed to the run in that game as he was against SEA.

We probably beat LAR as well.

I can hope that he learns from this year....but if he stays as our HC, I am sure that he will not have learned a thing.

Do you think that maybe that is a call from the LOS from the QB? Like I have said many times Rivers knows this offense maybe better than Shane does. Shane was a defensive coach for the Chargers before he was moved to QB coach So Philp has ran this same offense for 15+ yrs

Shane admitted that Philip got them into the right coverages and plays

He audibled A LOT Sunday

I do wonder.

I noticed that every time Phillip tapped his chest repeatly before the nap, it was an inside handoff to the RB. He did it four or five times that I noticed during the game.

If it was PR and not SS calling the runs, then Shane needs to fricking learn to how to commit to the run. 11 point lead going into the 4th against KC and his run to pass ratio in the 4th quarter was 1:8. If he ran the ball even 4 or 5 times instead of once, we win that game.

I like Shane well enough but his perchance to go pass whacky is hurting us.

I do like DJ. But I wonder if he knew the offnse well enough to change the plays. Perhaps SS can give Phil 2 plays at the los knowing he can figure out which one to use.

That is why I do not have confidence in Riley to run this right now nor do I have confidence that AR can do it either.

If either DJ or Leonard, or even AR for that matter, having 8-9 months, or 24+ months, on the job to learn the play book, can't adjust the play at the LOS, then we have a terrible developmental approach. If the justification for going with the prehistoric statue man with the pee shooter is the ability to change the plays based on the offensive system, man that's a really really really shitty reflection on what SS has built.

We have no real idea what is going on inside the Colts organization. These people lie to our faces all the time and our so called 'reporters' seem to have zero inside sources. Take AR for instance. We have no idea whether the Colts are done with AR and are just waiting to cut him (seems to be the most written opinion around here) or if they recognized that they fucked up by putting him out there without any proper preparation and are trying to see what a year sitting and just learning will produce (which to me makes more sense-with what this team has already invested in the guy and his obvious physical attributes). It is incredibly frustrating, especially right now. I don't expect the team itself to open up but it would be nice if these so called reporters would get even one scoop, you know develop a source within the organization.

Hell even I can play QB for Steichen I can walk up there and audible to a run every time

You really think that a kid with 8 months experience has enough knowledge of the system to know all the defenses and be able to manipulate them?

DJ was doing pretty well. But he's not available

Same with AR.

The two options are a brainiac or a kid that can run but is not and has never been a great passer

Do I, I don't know, never been put in that position of course. Having said that, and I have to caveat that I was only able to watch the first possession of the game and then a bit of footage here and there on the phone will doing something else, so I want to get that out on the table.


But having clarified all that- so far I have seen NOTHING from this game, that said the Rivers decision put us in a better position to win this game than would have playing RL. I have never been a big RL proponent going all the way back to him being picked up by ND, I have publicly stated he can't ben an NFL QB because he cannot complete passes from traditional QB schemes- standing in the pocket, reading, and reacting- he isn't good at it. However, I am also convinced one of the reasons we were successful jumping out to 7-1, was because we took advantage of DJ's mobility and SS's ability to scheme up some good shit. Further, our coach, is widely credited, perhaps has his current job, because he took a rough, inaccurate, but very athletic QB, to a SB title. So he has this pedigree, this is his forte.

So somehow, the best decision was to go away from what he has proven to be good at- leveraging the athleticism of his QB and innovative play-calling to get all they could out of his QB's skills, somehow instead the best approach was to suddenly revert to a static stand in the pocket approach, and with a guy that can't throw the ball with ANY velocity at all and can't push the ball 15+ down the field?

Sorry, I have seen nothing that says this was a good decision because PR could make calls at the line- to run the fucking ball off the LG 90% of the fucking game.

And since we were SO effective at it last week, we'll do it again this week, against another stout ass defense that is just as capable of stiffling the run and making you make plays from the QB position.

Sorry, more and more it seems SS is kind of just a puss. The last drive where Seattle carved us up to win the game, man at some point you have to fucking tell your DC- we aren't going to sit back in this bullshit cover that has allowed them to get enormous yardage all quarter and let them move the ball on this drive---- send your fucking guys... one tackle in bounds and we probably get a huge W. Steichen for all his 4th down bravado, actually seems to be a bit of a coward when the cards are down and he needs to do something different to buck the trend.

Pretty balanced attach. Pass/rush. So I think Rivers changed a lot of plays.

If you think about it. Even with Rivers. We were one of 2 plays from winning against the 2nd best D in the NFL.

Downs read the rout wrong (you could see Reggie explaining it to him on the sidelines) for a walk in TD. Also the last pass was tipped and intercepted that got us into game winning FG range

Yea. Lou was soft on that last drive. That was an issue. But Rivers did not cost us the game. He played well. He wasn't perfect. BUt he played well enough to win.

I'm sure if we lose Monday we may see what Riley has for at least one game.

AR will not see the field again this yr IMO. It feels as if they are ready to move on and will not risk another injury

JMO. and I have been wrong before.

To add to this. I think SF has film on Rivers now and will take away what he was doing against Seattle

Deep passes are not all about arm strength. If Rivers and Pierce can get together and practice to get some precise timing on sluggos and go routes, we can stretch the field. It is a must.

Timing and trust is all that it takes, the trust come from releasing the ball earlier to compensate for the lack of arm strength.

Not saying it will happen. But coming in with three days practice is not a lot of time to get the timing and speed of the game down.

Rivers has never had a big arm especially in his last few seasons. But he needs to understand how good AP is at the jump ball. Throw it and let him go get it

Also. We will have to score a lot because SF offense is pretty good.

They do not have a dynamic pass rush So hopefully it gives him more time

IDK. I am hopeful this gets turned around and we Win for Jim

Actually, the Seahawks have a higher scoring offense than the 49ers.

I am hoping and praying that Buck and Sauce are back.

I can't help but think that if Leonard did start this game and threw a few INTs and the Colts got stomped, you'd be on here bitching about SS and his decision. It's what you do.

I was out front before the game saying I didn't understand the decision and that RL is much more in the mold of DJ than PR so I didn't understand why we would make such a drastic diversion away from what had been successful for us. This coming from a close RL observer for 2 years before he came here who doesn't believe he is capable of being a QB in the NFL. Still don't see the upside in Rivers over him, he is 44, 5 years removed, couldn't move a lick then and now is just a sitting duck in the pocket and it doesn't take 20 years as an NFL talent scout to visibly see the arm is very weak. What the fuck am I missing that so many others see- including our coach and GM?

What I do is gripe about shit that I think is fucked up, and regrettably that just so happens to happen a LOT with this regime. If I didn't give a fuck, I wouldn't bitch about fucked up shit.

The only thing that makes sense to me to start a 44-year-old Phillip Rivers is that Ballard was told by CIG at the beginning of the season "playoffs or fired."

Playing Rivers does nothing to help the Colts long term. He will be back coaching HS football in 2026. We make no discovery on either Riley Leonard or Anthony Richardson by them riding the bench.

So, this decision to play Rivers is all about trying to make the playoffs.

How likely is that?

[BREAK BREAK]
I was doing a LONG post about our chances to overtake Houston for the #7 seed and was down to the 5th tiebreaker when I realized that it was beyond me.

Bottom line....Indy HAS to beat both JAX and HOU to have a chance based on tiebreakers. A loss to either dooms us.

I think we pretty much have to beat SF as well to have a realistic chance but there is a world where the Texans drop both LAC and IND and we can get away with a loss to SF.

So, it is not for sure over with a loss to SF but then the cards need to align just right for us to have a shot.

I sure hope you are incorrect about this (the ultimatum about making the playoffs). I don't see that as a very productive way to own/run a football team and hope that isn't our ownerships style. As a fan I reserve the right to let my emotions get the most of me and be fickle but I don't want ownership to be like me. An alternative reason is that ownership has everyone totally focused on winning and as long as there is a sliver of a chance to winthey are going to own it, no matter how small. To me, watching them swing for the fences with Sauce etc, this makes the most sense. I also want it to be this as that is the kind of ownership I want for this team.

Jones definitely had checks. if he had the knowledge or freedom rivers has is a valid question.

Conversely, I don't believe Rivers had much time to analyze the Seattle D to explore their weaknesses. He has this week to study any flaws in the 49er defense that his weak ass arm and strong running attack may be able to exploit. I realize that I may just be pissin in the wind, but I'm a fan and until there's no chance, .... there's a chance.

Here's an interesting conversation and thought line I heard a bit of Jake Query playing out while in the car today.

Think through this. Apparently the word is that it is doubtful AR will be ready to play any of the remaining three games, because he will need to time acclimate and to prepare himself for the rigors of a game situation. Presumptively that is coming from SS as the message as to why we will not see AR- this year, and given the tone, probably ever again in a Colts uniform. Okay, cool, cool.

Rivers is 5 years removed from retiring and wasn't the most physically impressive guy even when he was in his prime. He only needed to be in football practice mode for 3 days before he was acclimated and ready for the rigors of an NFL game?

Seriously, this is how they are going to play this? The Colts just aren't good at all at messaging, not at all. Was hoping this would change with Jim's passing, but it seems we are just going to continue pissing on our own legs.

So CW, my theory is that AR is just not a football player, and with all the time he had on IR, he didn't keep in football shape, didn't do anything that would increase his chances to be a football player and didn't do anything mentally to be prepared for the game.

What's your theory?

That's fair. But I don't know why this bothers you. It is obvious they do not trust AR and are in no rush to let him hurt himself again. He is most likely dont with the Colts.

SS is just not going to throw him under the bus.

Its a nothing burger. Who cares

It just seems to be more evidence that SS is perhaps in over his head as HC, and just seems to be exhibiting signs that he is one of those guys where the umbrella responsibilities are too broad for him and his best role is as a coordinator. He is not a good media guy, he struggles with situational / time management and finally the Rivers move to me signals that he has too much confidence in his ability to do something grandiose where all the existing data points indicate it isn't going to be successful.

Not hard to figure out. One guy, throughout his entire NFL life, is good at football and football intelligence, and the other simply isn't, and probably never will be.