No, that isn’t Josh Downs out there. A new number one has joined the Indianapolis Colts and is slated to be the number one starting cornerback for years to come. A position that is essential in football is now locked down and will look to lock down the game’s top receivers. Sauce Gardner came at a serious price, but if he delivers, no one will care. His debut will come immediately as he made the trek to Germany to join the Colts as they attempt to take down the Falcons in Berlin.
Opinions are divided with some seeing this as an overpay while others claiming Gardner is the missing piece on a championship run. When he makes his debut on Sunday, it is essential to understand one game’s work won’t tell the whole tale. As reported, Chris Ballard was given the choice from Carlie Irsay-Gordon to either band-aid it or fix it permanently. He chose the permanent route by making a home run swing. This is exactly the type of move serious contenders should make. The Colts showed fortitude with this move and truly believe it will pay off.
With all the success this team has had, there are certainly areas for improvement. The pass rush and back of the defense needed work. The defensive front has been hit by the injury bug so having Gardner available is even more important. They will need him to be extremely solid in coverage if they can’t create consistent pressure up front. DeForest Buckner is out for a bit, but the bye week should help others get healthy.
In the meantime, Gardner will need to prove his worth, and why wouldn’t he? He has been one of the best in the game and moving from a 1-7 team to 7-2 would be a shot in the arm for any player. Expect any slowdowns in his game, if there are any, to be rejuvenated as the excitement to play for a contender kicks in. The Colts are hoping for the player they saw in New York. If they get a more focused and even better version, they will be blown away, and it will justify everything they gave to obtain him.
Chris Ballard has used band-aids in the past to address areas of need. Not this time. Sauce Gardner is a long term solution and potential cornerstone of this franchise. A cornerback with his talent can change the game. Take away or severely limit the best receiver on any team and things get a lot harder. On a 53 man roster, it is hard to move the needle. Gardner won’t move it as much as a quarterback could, but he can make a huge difference. Even a small one could be enough to bring a championship to Indianapolis.
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