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(04/14/21 5:45pm)
When Indiana removed Archie Miller as head basketball coach, most assumed they would target an established coach with experience coaching college basketball. Names of potential candidates floated around, with the most notable being Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, Texas Tech coach Chris Beard and veteran college coaches like Thad Matta and John Beilein. Instead Athletic Director Scott Dolson opted to bring back legendary Indiana player Mike Woodson to fill the coaching void.
The hiring was met with a mix of disappointment and applause. There are positives and negatives about his hire as he brings 25 years of NBA coaching experience with him. He knows what NBA teams are looking for in players, he has connections to the New York Knicks and William Wesley, better known as World Wide Wes, who has relationships with some of the best high school players in the country. Detractors of the hire are that he is 63 years old on a six-year contract, has never had a job in college basketball, and has never recruited players.
It’s clear that Dolson had a vision in place with the hiring of former Ohio State coach Thad Matta as an associate athletic director who will oversee the basketball program. It’s unclear what Matta’s responsibilities will entail, but he will be a key asset in helping Woodson transition to the college game.
Matta was one of the most sought after coaches in the country, interviewing for numerous jobs since being let go by Ohio State in 2017. It’s not a question of whether Woodson can coach, as he had two 50-plus win seasons during his time in the NBA, but the moves he has made after becoming coach at IU have built a strong foundation for success.
In his first few weeks as the head coach of the Hoosiers, Woodson has done a great job. He has retained assistant coach Kenya Hunter, hired former Indiana player Dane Fife as an assistant coach, convinced star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis to return for his junior year and potential transfer Parker Stewart to stay, brought back Khristian Lander and Jordan Geronimo, and kept recruits Logan Duncomb and CJ Gunn. He’s put the work in early and it is clear that the players are buying into his message, as three of the six players who entered the transfer portal have announced their intention to return to Bloomington.
Each move has been positive. The players loved the coaches on the old staff and retaining Kenya Hunter is a good way to help players through the transition. Hunter is also a good recruiter, bringing in Pittsburgh transfer Xavier Johnson who was recruited to Nebraska when Hunter was on staff with Tim Miles and the Cornhuskers. His recruiting prowess and coaching experience will be beneficial for Woodson.
The coaching addition of former Indiana player, Fife, who played on Indiana’s 2002 team who were runners-up for the NCAA Championship, may also spark some energy within the program. Fife has previous experience coaching at Indiana under Mike Davis, then as the head coach of IPFW. After coaching at IPFW, Fife was the associate head coach at Michigan State for 10 seasons under Tom Izzo gaining experience from one of the best coaches in the country.
Fife, like Hunter, brings recruiting and coaching experience to the staff, as well as the experience of playing for Indiana. Keeping key players like Stewart, Jackson-Davis, Lander, and Geronimo should help the Hoosiers next season. Lander and Geronimo have untapped potential that can be fostered by the new staff, while Stewart and Jackson-Davis can bolster the offense with their experience.
With 2021 commit, Duncomb, and 2022 commit, Gunn, announcing they’ll stick with Indiana, both will serve as key building blocks for the future. Getting them to remain committed is a good sign that Woodson can recruit as he retained most of the roster from the previous season. Woodson has built a lot of momentum in the basketball program, but the fans will have to wait until November to see the results of the early returns.
(03/30/21 4:47pm)
It happened. Another basketball coach ousted by Indiana, exiled to lay in the shadowed graveyard that has been dug since the departure of Bobby Knight in 2000. It’s different this time, Archie Miller was viewed as a homerun hire for the Hoosiers by many college basketball writers, insiders, and even coaches, like John Calipari who praised his hiring, “If I were hiring a coach I would hire Archie,” he said in a 2017 interview. “He’s a basketball guy, he’s not afraid, he’s got a fight in him, he’s got a will, and the kids love playing for him. I think he’ll do a great job there.” The hire made sense for a program that was looking for an upgrade from Tom Crean. Miller was an up and coming coach that interviewed for the Florida job when Billy Donovan left for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The hype of his hire was real, causing many to believe the Hoosiers were back as he was viewed as a coach who could be the long term answer. However, his tenure comes to an end without ever defeating Purdue or Michigan, finishing above sixth in the conference, and no NCAA Tournament appearances. The statement Calipari made, “I think he’ll do a great job there,” raises an interesting question of why he didn’t work out? He had an outstanding resume with the Dayton Flyers, leading them to multiple 20 win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances, even making the Elite Eight in 2014. A rising star getting the chance to breathe life into a dysfunctional, but legendary, program seemed like nothing would go wrong. However, reality doesn’t follow this formula and the great success he had at Dayton failed to follow him to Bloomington. His Dayton teams played exciting basketball that was built around shooting the ball effectively, playing tough defense and rebounding efficiently. Free throws were a struggle at Dayton and the same issue plagued his Indiana teams as this season the percentage for the team was 67%. The construction of the team was different from his Dayton teams as they played an older style of basketball that was dependent on big men like Trayce Jackson-Davis. Purdue has used a system like this effectively for years. What Purdue does effectively is being able to shoot the ball when they need to. They still utilize big men, but they built a system around a philosophy that maximizes the talent of their guards and forwards. All Indiana did was give the ball to Jackson-Davis and see what happened. This rendered the team to become a dysfunctional, unwatchable mess on offense. The lack of player development has been something that has drawn ire from fans during his tenure. Veteran players like Rob Phinisee and Al Durham seemed to still make fundamental mistakes that seasoned players should not. Recruits heralded as deadeye shooters or great scorers missed their mark, like Romeo Langford, Damezi Anderson, Trey Galloway, and Anthony Leal, granted Leal and Galloway were only freshmen and had not been given the opportunity to flourish. The lack of involvement in the offense for the freshman hurt the team as they were not equipped to succeed when it was their time to get into the game. Trey Galloway led the freshman class in scoring as he averaged 3.6 ppg, while highly touted five-star recruit Khristian Lander averaged 2.1 ppg. It was a culmination of circumstances that led to the season ending on a six game losing streak and Miller being fired. All things considered it seemed the players loved playing for Archie and the staff. Jackson-Davis tweeted a frowny face emoji after Miller was let go. With the recent decision to hire former NBA head coach Mike Woodson, it’s important to see if the new coach can make fans and alums excited for the future. Tom Allen is a perfect example as Indiana fans are excited about football because the energy and passion he brings makes the future of the football program bright.Miller didn’t drag the program through the mud like Kelvin Sampson did. Rather, he wasn’t a fit for the program and it didn’t work out like everyone thought it would. This shows that fit matters for coaches and programs. Even though he wasn’t a fit, this opportunity will allow IU to revamp its identity, one led by alum Mike Woodson, who could return the program back to where the fans desire.
(03/02/21 5:19pm)
Valparaiso University was established in 1859 and has served millions of students over its history. Since the year 1942 the school mascot has been the “Crusader” but the 79 year marriage has come to an end as the university announced plans to drop the moniker due to hate groups adopting the name. This is not the first occasion of the university changing names as they were previously known as the “Uhlan” but scrapped the name due to connection with the Nazi’s.
With Valparaiso changing the mascot it leaves Holy Cross University as the only Division I school with the Crusader mascot. This has been a recent trend as schools and professional sports organizations with controversial names have been pressured to change names deemed to be offensive.
Chris Lamb, a Journalism professor at IUPUI, commented saying, “It’s up to progressives to pressure high schools, colleges, and pro teams to drop offensive nicknames.”
This phenomenon has caused many sports franchises to change their mascot. Lamb also stated his belief that once one offensive name is dropped or changed, then others will follow.
One notable example is the Washington Football Team when they dropped the “Redskin” moniker from their team name. Public outcry calling for a name change was the driving force behind the franchises decision to do so. The CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos faced the same issue and after initially deciding to keep the Eskimos as their mascot, they announced they would choose a new team name.
Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians also decided to change their name. The team has gone by “Indians” since 1915 and recently dropped a logo that was deemed offensive, when they eliminated the Chief Wahoo logo in 2018.
“No one wants bad publicity,” Lamb said. “A time comes when organizations decide it’s not worth pissing off people.”
All organizations mentioned previously have been asked to change their names before, but now they have decided to make the change when previously they were reluctant to do so.
Valparaiso voluntarily dropped the crusader's nickname. Interim President, Colette Irwin-Knox, cited new values.
“The negative connotation and violence associated with the Crusader imagery are not reflective of Valpo’s mission and value, which promote a welcoming and inclusive community,” she said. “This is the decision that best reflects our values and community.”
Valparaiso was in a similar situation as Washington was, having a name that is perceived by people to be offensive. However, they handled the situation better and more appropriately compared to Washington. Instead of dismissing calls for change and being stubborn, the university decided to change as the name didn’t reflect their values.
There is a difference in situations as there was more public uproar for Washington to change the name, while Valpo’s name caused a stir, but not on the stage that Washington’s did. This change is reflective of changes in society that have occurred within the last decade. With race conversations becoming more prominent and people pressuring teams to drop names that have
negative connotations show that people are going to speak out if they feel a change needs to be made.
Valpo took matters into their own hands and made a change without being forced to like other organizations. With them making the change, could Holy Cross do the same? That is yet to be determined and this change could serve as a domino effect for other institutions to change as well.
(02/13/21 11:23pm)
The Baseball Hall of Fame announced on January 26 that none of its finalists achieved the qualifying percentage points to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The minimum number of votes needed for induction into the hall of fame is 75%. Curt Schilling had the highest percent of votes out of the 25 finalists, with 71.1% followed by Barry Bonds, 61.8% and Roger Clemens, 61.6%.
This is the ninth occurrence since 1936 of no one being inducted into the hall of fame, with the other years being 2013, 1996, 1971, 1958-1960, 1950, 1945-1946, and 1936. The announcement caused baseball fans to question the methods and criteria the Baseball Writers’ Association of America uses to evaluate finalists for induction into the hall of fame. Curt Schilling was so disgusted and upset with the committees’ decision that he asked to be taken off of the 2022 Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot.
“I am mentally done,” he said in a tweet. “I know math and I know trends and I know I will not attain the 75% threshold for induction.”
Schilling retired from baseball in 2009, finishing his impressive career with 216 wins to 146 losses, a 3.46 ERA, 3,116 strike-outs, and a WAR of 79.5. His three World Series championships should make his induction a home run, but he still has not been selected. Looking at his career and individual season statistics show why he is a hall of famer, but character concerns have been road blocking his chances for years.
Since his retirement in 2009, controversy has stalked Schilling. Tweets comparing Muslims to Nazi’s, caused ESPN to suspend him, and later mocking Transgender people, which ESPN fired him for, have not helped his case. Recently Schilling tweeted support for the capitol riots, where five people, including a capitol officer, died. With all the controversial situations and statements made over the years, it’s understandable why he has not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds were also snubbed, causing a firestorm. Both have the same issue going against them. Steroids.
Both players were at the forefront of the Mitchell Report, which listed players who allegedly took performance enhancing drugs. The accusations have stained both players' images and has kept them from getting the necessary amount of votes to be inducted into the Hall. What is certain is that both men dominated their respective positions transforming them into legends that cannot go unmentioned when discussing great baseball players.
Barry Bonds had a WAR of 162.8, 2,935 hits, the major league record 762 home runs, and a batting average of .298. He also batted 1,996 RBI’s, was a 14 time all-star, won seven MVP awards and set the single season home run record with 73 in 2001. He dominated both at the plate and in the field with 12 Silver Slugger awards and eight Gold Glove awards.
Bonds feasted off pitchers for his entire career, while Roger Clemens shut down opposing lineups over his 24 seasons in the big leagues. Clemens won an MVP, seven CY Young awards, two World Series championships and was an all-star 11 times. He won 354 games compared to 184 losses, struck out 4,672 batters, the third most all time, had a WAR of 139.2 and had a career ERA of 3.12.
Mentioned previously, Clemens was an alleged steroid user, something that could potentially keep him out of the hall of fame. There was also an accusation that Clemens had an inappropriate relationship with Mindy McCready when she was a minor which reportedly lasted a decade. She confirmed the accusations but Clemens has never discussed the matter.
Fans are upset that none of the men have been inducted into the baseball hall of fame as they have fantastic resumes. However, Schilling, Clemens, and Bonds have their baggage and that seems to be what is keeping them from getting the necessary votes for induction. All three men are great players and deserve a spot, but their lives off the field is what has been stopping them.
The Baseball Hall of Fame has a history of inducting controversial athletes and managers, says Chris Lamb, a journalism professor at IUPUI.
“Baseball writers only take character into consideration when it’s convenient for them,” Lamb said via email.
He states men like Tony La Russa, the former manager of the Oakland Athletics, who had unprecedented success during his tenure with the club, going to three world series and winning one of them. His success was attributed to men like Jose Conseco and Mark MaGwire, both men have been outed for using steroids in their playing careers. The Commissioner of baseball during the time, Bud Selig, is also enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame even though he knew about the steroid allegations and did nothing to stop it.
This raises the question, Should players like Pete Rose and “Shoeless Joe Jackson” be inducted into the baseball hall of fame? Pete Rose received a lifetime ban for betting on games he managed, which he admitted to in 2004. “Shoeless Joe Jackson” was caught up in a
similar situation when the Chicago White Sox threw the 1919 World Series in a scandal dubbed the “Black Sox Scandal” and he ultimately was banned for life by the commissioner.
Rose and Jackson were persecuted for their actions and have not had their suspensions overturned. Both men altered games by gambling and taking bribes, which is different than taking PEDs, but they still affected the outcomes. It is also what Bonds, Clemens, and Schilling did when they decided to take PEDs. They are different issues that had a similar outcome, except two men got banned for life, while the other three got off scott free.
Lamb points to writers' personal bias towards candidates as a possible reason that keeps men like Bonds, Clemens, and Schilling from getting enshrined in the hall of fame. He suggests that Schilling will get inducted one day, and based on the votes he received this year, it could be soon. There is also the argument that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were arguably hall of famers before they started using PEDs.
It’s difficult to forecast the future of Bonds, Clemens, and Schilling, but all three men will most likely end up in the hall of fame. Schilling was 16 votes shy of meeting the requirement for induction, but Bonds and Clemens have more ground to make up. Regardless, there is little doubt that all three men will be remembered for dominating on the diamond
(12/18/20 1:38am)
The Hoosiers traveled to Tallahassee for a matchup with the No. 20 Florida State Seminoles in the ACC-Big Ten challenge. It was a rematch from last season, where Indiana won 80-64 in Bloomington. The game was a tough, grinder of a matchup that could be defined in one word.
Physical.
It was a back and forth defensive affair that required an extra session to determine a winner that resulted in Florida State freshman Scottie Barnes banking in a shot to win the game for the Seminoles.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but a measuring stick game for Indiana to see what needs to be fixed before conference play begins December 23rd. After only five games, the report card shows that shooting is still an issue and athletic teams can overwhelm them at times. Indiana is only converting about four 3-pointers per game, which ranks last in the Big Ten.
In a matchup against the Texas Longhorns, Indiana was abysmal on offense, going 11 of 46 from the field, or 23.9%. They only attempted 10 three point shots and converted on two. It was a blowout loss and an ugly reminder of what can happen if they match up against a tough, athletic, defensive team.
Indiana needs Trayce Jackson-Davis to play like an All-American every game or Indiana could struggle this season.In the 22 point loss to the Longhorns, he played alright, scoring 17 points while struggling to find position down low, coming down with only four rebounds.
With him struggling, the team struggled to put the ball through the net. They have to allocate the offense around Jackson-Davis, even if he plays poorly, to be in games. That was the game plan against Florida State, even with Trayce playing well.
Overall, Florida State played a better game. However, Florida State struggled from the free throw line, which allowed Indiana to stay in the game. Unlike their game against Texas, the Hoosiers matched Florida State’s physicality and were not overwhelmed by their athleticism.
Indiana needs to play like that every game to have a chance in a brutal Big Ten that features three teams in the top 10. The team has a lot to improve upon, but has young talent that could lead them to some big wins this season. Indiana has the opportunity to be a great team if they play, sound, physical basketball.
They have depth at every position and a nucleus of young talent mixed with experienced players that can step up any game. They showed against Florida State that they won’t be intimidated by size and athleticism like in previous seasons. The season has only begun, but this group has potential to make a run in the Big Ten and possibly in the Tournament.
(12/13/20 5:41pm)
For the third time in his college career, Michael Penix Jr’s, starting quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers, season ends prematurely as another ACL tear halts his magical season. It’s an unfortunate turn for fans and the team but his injury won’t stop what has already been a season to remember.
The play that will be immortalized in IU Football history happened week one of the Big Ten football season when Penix made the game winning, diving, two-point conversion to upset No. 8 Penn State. His Space Jam-esque stretch was the beginning of the breakthrough season that
Indiana football has been waiting years for. Big wins against Big Ten giants in Penn State and Michigan have pushed Indiana to new heights.
Penix shook off a rough start to lead Indiana to an upset victory over the Nittany Lions by throwing for 170 yards with a passing touchdown, and one rushing touchdown. After beating Rutgers in New Jersey, a big time matchup against Michigan stood in Indiana’s way. Penix dominated the Michigan defense going 30/50 with 342 yards with three touchdowns.
The toughest challenge of the season was a road game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The offense had a difficult time against the vaunted Ohio State defense, but eventually got going as Penix shredded the Buckeye defense. His 491 yards against Ohio State even earned him a shout out by Lebron James.
He finishes the season with 1,645 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes to four interceptions. His season may be over but the team is built to continue winning. The defense has been great all season with the most notable game coming against Ohio State, forcing Justin Fields to throw three interceptions which tied his total from last season. The defense leads the Big Ten in sacks with 20 and interceptions with 16, which leads the nation with an average of 2.60 interceptions per game.
Backup quarterback Jack Tuttle is more than capable of taking the lead role. Coming out of high school, he was a four-star recruit with offers from Alabama, LSU, USC, Nebraska, and Utah,
where he signed to play. However, he transferred in the middle of his freshman season to Indiana where he has been the backup to Penix since.
The road game against Wisconsin was his first start as a college quarterback and many were counting the Hoosiers out. Tuttle played composed and led Indiana to a 14-6 win in a tough, hard hitting defensive battle. A final game at home against a 2-4 Purdue team is all that is left for Indiana. Much is at stake as the possibility of a Big Ten championship bid is still possible if Ohio State can’t play Michigan. Additionally, the program could go to its first New Year's Six bowl game since the 1968 Rose Bowl.
The Michigan-Ohio State game was recently cancelled which puts the Buckeyes under the requirement of games played to qualify for the Big Ten championship game. The Hoosiers will have to wait and see if the Big Ten allows Ohio State to play in the championship. Indiana faces bitter rival Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket in Bloomington on Saturday December 12th at 3:30 p.m.
It’s a sour note to lose Penix in what has been a season for the ages, but he will fight back and return to health next season. With all the talent on the roster, next season could be just as good, if not better than this year. When he returns it will be to a well balanced team that can win with anyone starting under center.
(12/04/20 7:36pm)
College basketball tipped off Wednesday, November 25th under a cloud of uncertainty. The rising Covid-19 cases have taken a toll on the country and could jeopardize the upcoming season. Iona coach Rick Pitino has said that he wants the season to be pushed back so a vaccine can be administered to lower cases.
“I’ll say it again, to anyone who will listen, push the season back to March, and then have May Madness. Give the vaccine a chance. In the best interest of all involved,” he said via twitter.
Pitino has the best interest of the players at heart but it doesn’t seem like the season will be delayed. The 2019 NCAA Basketball Tournament generated a total of $933 million. The pandemic has crippled many universities as some have cut different sports in an effort to save money.
Teams have dropped out of pre-season tournaments due to Covid issues inside their programs. Baylor head coach Scott Drew recently tested positive for Coronavirus and the school announced they would not participate in the 2020 Empire Classic in New York City. The Utah Utes canceled their opening game against the University of New Orleans as multiple players, including head coach Larry Krystkowiak tested positive for Covid and the IVY League canceled all fall sports.
Even Florida had to pause basketball activities as they experienced an outbreak in their program. This resulted in the cancellation of a game between them and Virginia. Tennessee their conference rival also paused activities as head coach Rick Barnes tested positive for the virus.
With the number of cases increasing and teams delaying or canceling openers, Pitino’s argument for delaying the season becomes more practical. Delaying the season and playing a conference only schedule could work, but the NCAA seems unwilling to delay the start of the season. The NCAA is in talks with the city of Indianapolis to hold the entire tournament there so why not push back the tournament to?
It comes down to money.
The NCAA has lost a lot of money already as the football season has been derailed and college basketball is one of their big money makers. Pushing back the season and tournament could cause a bigger financial loss compared to playing the season as scheduled. It is going to be an intriguing season as some teams could play more games than others, which could make it interesting during tournament selection time.
The College Football Playoff committee said there is no minimum game requirement to be eligible for the playoff, so the same rules could apply for the NCAA Tournament.
The only thing certain is that the season has begun and what comes after is unknown.
(10/18/20 8:03pm)
Philip Rivers has not looked great. The soon to be 39-year-old quarterback has shown his age this season, committing egregious errors a veteran player should not make. In the loss to the Cleveland Browns, his mistakes cost the Colts the game.
Rivers threw two inexcusable interceptions and was sacked for a safety by Cleveland’s defense, which effectively ended the game. One of the interceptions was returned for a touchdown. Him staring down the receiver allowed for the defender to undercut the route and return it for a touchdown.
Rivers play over the first four games have been mixed to put it simply. He has thrown four touchdown passes, while throwing five interceptions. The offense with him at the helm has been stagnant as they have struggled throwing the football.
His disappointing play has caused some fans to call for a change at quarterback. Some feel that his $25 million contract he signed this offseason has been a waste of money. The contract is for one season but with a price tag that big most fans want the player to perform at a high level.
With questions swirling around the quarterback position, it has led pundits to pose possible targets to replace Rivers. An interesting proposal made by Mike Greenberg on his sports show “Get Up” has started some buzz around the topic. In a segment, he said that the Colts should trade for Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Matt Ryan.
“If Matt Ryan was on the Indianapolis Colts by the end of this season, they’d be a Super Bowl team,” Greenburg said. “They’re missing one piece, and that one piece is the quarterback of the Falcons right now.”
Marcus Spears, a former NFL player and co-contributor of the show agreed with Greenberg’s opinion noting that “it was logical.”
“If you tell me Matt Ryan is not going to turn the football over, send him to Indianapolis and that is a better football team,” Spears said.
It would make sense to target Ryan as the Falcons recently fired Head Coach Dan Quinn, and General Manager Thomas Dimitroff, which is a signal for a rebuild. Ryan is currently 35 and does not have many years left, so trading for him now would give the Colts a great opportunity to push for a Super Bowl. The Colts have one of the best offensive lines in the league, solid receivers and a good group of running backs, led by 21-year-old rookie Jonathan Taylor. They also have the (insert rating) defense in the league, headlined by star linebacker Darius Leonard and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
Matt Ryan would provide a steady, reliable hand at quarterback. He has thrown for over 4,000 passing yards in nine consecutive years, owns the 2016 MVP award, and has a Super Bowl appearance on his resume. With the Falcons seemingly in rebuild mode, it would be a bold move, but one that is worth the risk.
Matt Ryan isn’t the only possible target the Colts could look at. Sam Darnold is another possible candidate. It was reported by (insert source) that the New York Jets could look to move him this offseason in favor of replacing him in the draft. The Jets have done nothing to build around the USC alum, but judging from his play, there’s still potential that could be harnessed if he is put in the correct situation.
Another New York quarterback that could be an option is Daniel Jones of the New York Giants. He is in a similar situation as Darnold, even though this is only his second season. What puts Jones in uncertainty is the fact that he has fumbled 22 times in only 18 career games.
Jones shows flashes of potential but he is more of a project. In a more stable organization he could blossom into a great player.
Dwayne Haskins of the Washington Football Team has been rumoured to possibly be moved as the coach and general manager who drafted him have since been fired. Recently he has been replaced as the starting quarterback and put at the third string.
Another possible option includes Dak Prescott. He recently suffered a compound fracture and dislocated ankle, so it’s uncertain when he will return to the field. NFL writers have stated that the Colts, along with the Bears, would be the best fit for him, so it’s something to keep an eye on.
Those are a few possible options that the Colts could inquire about. If the Colts want to win now, then Ryan would be the best option. If they want to acquire a young quarterback to build around and be the starter for the next decade, then the 23-year-old Darnold has the most upside.
The Colts are at a crossroads. They could allow Rivers to continue to start or alternatively play Jacoby Brisett, or even trade for a new quarterback. With the conservative nature of Chris Ballard, it seems unlikely that he trades for a new quarterback during the season, so they will most likely stick with the in house quarterbacks.
With all the options on the table it should make for an interesting rest of the season. The Colts have an opportunity to push for the playoffs, but need Rivers to step up his game and not make erratic, arrant passes that could cost the Colts in the future. It is still early in the season and Rivers could turn it around, but thinking about the future should still be a focus throughout the rest of the season.
(10/13/20 3:39pm)
After an embarrassing defeat to division rival the Jacksonville Jaguars in week one the Colts have rattled off three straight victories, improving their record to 3-1. A big reason for those victories is the emergence of the defense, which ranks number one in the NFL.
In the games since the loss to Jacksonville, the Colts have beaten the Minnesota Vikings, 28-11, the New York Jets, 36-7, and the Chicago Bears, 19-11. According to ESPN, the Colts defense gives up an average of 236.3 yards per game and only 945 total yards through the first four games this season, which is the lowest through four games of a season since the 2010 Baltimore Ravens who gave up 943 total yards. The defense only gives up 14 points per game, while only relinquishing 56 total points on the season.
It was an impressive three game stretch for the defense as against the Vikings, they forced three interceptions and a safety. Sam Darnold saw ghosts all over again throwing three interceptions, two were returned for touchdowns and forcing another safety. Against the Bears, the defense surrendered only 28 rushing yards and forced a Nick Foles interception in the win.
Since the loss in week one the defense has transformed into a wild pack of ferocious beasts flying to the ball, not allowing opposing offenses the ability to sustain drives to score points. The amount of growth on the defensive side of the ball has been surprising, considering the Colts had a middle of the road defense last season, finishing (16th) in the NFL. Offseason moves made by the organization and player development are the main reasons for the vast improvement.
The Colts hot start recently came to an end losing to the Cleveland Browns. The defense could not stop the Browns offense in the first half as Baker Mayfield finished the game with 247 passing yards and two touchdowns. However, the run defense lived up to its No. 1 ranking, only allowing 125 rushing yards a week after Cleveland rushed for over 300 yards against the Cowboys.
The defense stepped up in the second half forcing two interceptions by Baker Mayfield, and only allowing 12 points. It was a loss, but the defense played better after the rough first half, which is a good sign.
The big move the Colts made in the offseason was when they traded a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft to the San Francisco 49ers for pro bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. It was a bold move by General Manager Chris Ballard but has paid off as his pass rush ability has allowed other players to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks while he takes on double teams. His leadership ability has really shown as the unit has improved week after week.
The late addition of Xavier Rhodes has paid dividends as his play has frustrated opposing quarterbacks and receivers alike. His physical playstyle matches the identity of the defense and makes him a natural fit in the defensive scheme.
Rookie safety Julian Blackmon has played great stepping in for injured Malik Hooker. He has played well batting away five passes, making seven tackles and he even intercepted Nick Foles to put the game away against the Chicago Bears. His play doesn’t resemble a rookie, rather an experienced veteran with a couple of seasons under his belt and that is what you want to see from young players.
The development under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has been tremendous. Each of his three seasons as the defensive coordinator have seen improvement and with players like Darius Leonard, Anthony Walker, and now Deforest Buckner leading the charge. Those three are hard workers and play with infectious energy that rallies other guys to play with unwavering confidence.
With the efficiency that the defense has played with it puts the Colts in good position for a possible playoff spot. The schedule picks up with games against the Browns, Ravens, and Packers have lethal offenses that can score in a multitude of ways. The season is young, but the defense looks to continue to improve and wreak havoc on opposing teams for the rest of the season.