Stock Up
Alec Pierce & Josh Downs
The Colts’ young wide receivers carried most of the load on offense against the Niners, with Downs leading the team in catches and first downs, and Pierce having a rebound game after a quiet stretch posting over 85 yards and two touchdowns. I expected more from Tyler Warren and JT on this one, but it was nice to watch the young receivers step up. Is it insane to suggest giving MPJ’s money to Pierce?
Laiatu Latu
Latu’s breakout season has been quiet because the Colts’ defense has not been good and because he was playing with no other pass-rushers other than himself this year. He is the only Colt with a pass-rush win rate over 15% since Justin Houston in 2019 (which is more of a knock on Ballard’s complete inability to draft edge rushers than Latu’s skill). Latu would greatly benefit from cornerbacks being able to cover their guys more than 2.5 seconds, and linebackers that are actually competent in coverage. Perhaps next year.
Philip Rivers
Not like Rivers needs anything more in what has to be a HoF caliber career, but the fact that he came back after 5 years of retirement and is playing as well as he is makes me really happy. On a season where it all went down the drain so fast, it is nice to at least have a positive storyline to follow through the final weeks of the year. Hopefully he manages to get a win at home.
Blake Grupe
There is not a single Colt that has done more for their future than kicker Blake Grupe over the past two weeks. After nailing a 60-yarder that should have been the game winner if not for a terrible kickoff coverage and soft defense, he nailed all his kicks once again including a 50-yarder. I expected Shrader to be the kicker next year but with the way Grupe is kicking it will be hard to let him go.
Stock Down
Colts’ backup cornerbacks
Not like we were expecting much, but both Mekhi Blackmon and Johnathan Edwards were really bad against the Niners. No team can survive so many injuries to a single position group, so it is hard to find anyone to blame here, but they had the chance to earn some playing time next year. Jaylon Jones cannot be much worse than what we are currently seeing from them.
Kwity Paye
I cannot understand how Paye continues getting so many snaps despite being a non-factor rushing the passer, and mediocre against the run. Don’t just take my word for it, the numbers here are very telling. Paye ranks 47th out of 50 qualified edge-rushers with over 50% of their team’s pass-rushing snaps in total pressures. He will most likely be a free-agent after this season and hopefully the Colts manage to get some improvements in that area to help out Latu and Anarumo.
Dalton Tucker
Tucker once again had a chance to start for the Colts, and like has been the case most of the times he is starting he was clearly the weak link on the line and was exposed several times throughout the game. Quenton Nelson is not getting any younger, so the Colts will need to invest in at least a capable depth interior offensive line. Ballard has been really good drafting that particular position so if he stays he will get another crack at that, at Tucker’s expense.
Shane Steichen & Chris Ballard
No playoffs once again and this one even worse because new owner Carlie Irsay Gordon went all in trading two 1st round picks for shutdown cornerback Sauce Gardner, who was unfortunately injured and miss the last part of the season. The problem with Steichen seems to be lack of leadership and ability to close out close games. I look at what other AFC teams managed to do in so little time, like the Patriots and the Jaguars, and I can’t help but feel jealous.
Ballard is probably the biggest loser and his job might finally be on the line after once again failing to make the playoffs. He is a good general manager, but he has consistently failed at the games two most important positions: quarterback and pass-rushers.
Colts’ fans
Welp, this one started off nice, but in the it is the same results as the past couple of years. Another season down the drain, this one hurting even more because of the initial optimism and the feeling that we had finally gotten over the hump. Next season could be better, with Jones back and the defense healthy, but with the same leadership probably in place I think we should be expecting more of the same.
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