Quick thoughts after loss to bucs

[daedge]

There definitely has to be some context to the 26 straight passing plays, including the fact that included the two minute drill.

That said, I've seen some defending Reich for abandoning the run, pointing to the running stats in the first quarter. However, my argument is the Colts needed to keep the Bucs honest with a few runs. After all, you have the best back in the league, one who gashed the Bills when they loaded the box a week earlier.

Instead, Reich got tunnel vision, allowing the Bucs pass rushers to tee off again and again and again. What a surprise, Wentz got sacked and fumbled, and the Colts went from potentially leading 31-14 to trailing 31-24 in no time. It was game changing stuff.

Two more things.

1. I'd be happy if the Colts never threw another ball in the direction of Pascal again.
2. I'd love to see Wentz stop under-throwing his receivers. Even the last ditch prayer was under-cooked and didn't reach the end zone.

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by daedge

There definitely has to be some context to the 26 straight passing plays, including the fact that included the two minute drill.

That said, I've seen some defending Reich for abandoning the run, pointing to the running stats in the first quarter. However, my argument is the Colts needed to keep the Bucs honest with a few runs. After all, you have the best back in the league, one who gashed the Bills when they loaded the box a week earlier.

Instead, Reich got tunnel vision, allowing the Bucs pass rushers to tee off again and again and again. What a surprise, Wentz got sacked and fumbled, and the Colts went from potentially leading 31-14 to trailing 31-24 in no time. It was game changing stuff.

Two more things.

1. I'd be happy if the Colts never threw another ball in the direction of Pascal again.
2. I'd love to see Wentz stop under-throwing his receivers. Even the last ditch prayer was under-cooked and didn't reach the end zone.

Regarding #2, he hit Dulin in stride, and also Doyle. I wonder if it was underthrown because he didn't set his feet before throwing. I know it isn't arm strength.

[Racehorse]

Here are my thoughts:

1. You can't beat Brady's refs. They won't let you.

2. TB has a great defense. Still, we scored 31 points. TThe lesser defenses should be easier.

3. Too many dropped passes early on. Pittman, Pascal, Taylor.

4. Dulin should play over Pascal moving forward. I wonder what Strachan did to get scratched so often. Patmon?

5. When we lost Buckner to end the one series, we got gashed quickly. He is THAT important.

6. Rodgers is coming along nicely. Rock is improved. He nearly had a pick that could have been returned.

7. This was two fairly healthy teams. If we can stay healthy, I like our chances. The Tacks are the least healthy, and vulnerable. We likely can't catch them, but we can beat them when it matters, if we can get there.

8. Turnovers usually go in our favor. Not today. That is why we took the L. Clean that up, and we can play with anyone. NE and AZ look to be tough games, but AZ is not the same AZ as they were early on. Win one of those two, and beat the dogs left, and we get in.

9. Can we forget about Pascal? and where was MAC today?

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

Here are my thoughts:

4. Dulin should play over Pascal moving forward. I wonder what Strachan did to get scratched so often.

Those guys are both projects. Fans always get pumped for rookie hype. But Strachan didn’t even play football last year and came from a tiny program. They both have a large learning curve since Reich wants his WRs to know all the routes for each WR position. We might see more Strachan next year, Patmon maybe, I feel like he has peaked.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

Regarding #2, he hit Dulin in stride, and also Doyle. I wonder if it was underthrown because he didn't set his feet before throwing. I know it isn't arm strength.

Yeah didn’t help he was flushed from the pocket on a 3 man rush. Rolled right and threw back left.

[rm1369]

I’d love for someone with access to the All-22 go through and see how many RPOs were called, what the decision was and what the outcome was. I’ve seen someone on Twitter claim there were 6 RPOs called in the 3rd quarter, all ended up passes and all we’re completions. I don’t know if that is accurate, but I do remember there being several RPOs called that ended up passes because of the way TB played them.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by daedge

Instead, Reich got tunnel vision, allowing the Bucs pass rushers to tee off again and again and again. What a surprise, Wentz got sacked and fumbled, and the Colts went from potentially leading 31-14 to trailing 31-24 in no time. It was game changing stuff. .

This is more reasonable a critique than most of what I've read.
And I do think more running could have been beneficial. But we do have hindsight. Yes, I suppose the DL will tee off when they expect a pass.

But I think it would be overly prudent to stop thrashing a defense with the pass because maybe this next play will possibly result in Shaq Barrett eating Eric Fisher's lunch.

And we were thrashing them. As you said, we drove down to their 20-yard-line and were on our way to a 31-14 lead. That was all passing. If we don't turn the ball over, Frank's gameplan is praised.

It's kind of like how you don't hear anybody bitching about him going for it on 4th down this game... Because we scored.

[Oldcolt]

Losing teams always have tons of excuses. We have blown three big leads, each one with a bunch of 'if onlys'. We need to find the way to win. If it was only one game then sure, refs were bad. But it is who we are, a team that blows leads. It has to have a mental component to it. I'm glad that a bunch of Freaks are still pumped for this year. Not me. Don't like this team or the way it plays. Don't care for the 'leadership' that our player exhibit. Hope next year is better but don't hold out much hope. Bummed.

[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

Losing teams always have tons of excuses. We have blown three big leads, each one with a bunch of 'if onlys'. We need to find the way to win. If it was only one game, then sure, refs were bad. But it is who we are, a team that blows leads. It has to have a mental component to it. I'm glad that a bunch of Freaks are still pumped for this year. Not me. Don't like this team or the way it plays. Don't care for the 'leadership' that our player exhibit. Hope next year is better but don't hold out much hope. Bummed.

o


I agree completely ...... in game threads, I often say that good teams find ways to overcome bad breaks, whether they be freak turnovers, injuries to key players, or bad calls by the referee.

On the other, the Colts are 6-3 over their last 9 games including a win over a good Buffalo Bills team ...... so the Colts still have a chance to win at least 4 out of their final 5 games to finish at either 11-6 and 10-7. If they do, they will have shown to be (at least) the equal of the 2018 team, a team which started the season at 1-5 before reeling off 9 wins over their 10 final regular season games and then stunning the favored Houston Texans on their home-field in the Wildcard playoff game.

They have already beaten the Bills ...... they still have 3 more chances left to beat good teams (the Cardinals and the Patriots) and/or an above-average team (the Raiders.)

o

[Oldcolt]

Thanks C&O. Your perspective is appreciated and true. I just find this depressing but am glad to have folks like you around to see the half full glass.