Colts’ Monday Morning Awards: Week 5 @Jaguars

Another loss in Duval, this one as disappointing as the others

MVP of the Game: Joe Flacco

Flacco had a nearly perfect day at the office, and used his big arm to lead an improbable 4th quarter comeback that ended up being wiped away after yet another disastrous defensive effort on the Jags’ game-winning drive. 33/44, for 359 yards, and three scores that could have easily been four considering Pierce was tackled at the one-yard line and then Trey Sermon punched it in. The veteran clearly has something left in the tank, and the offense clearly has the talent where an accurate arm like his can come in and make plenty of plays.

Dud of the Game: Braden Smith, defensive line, Gus Bradley

Once again, Braden Smith struggled in Jacksonville. This time he was absolutely slaughtered by Travon Walker, allowing the edge rusher three sacks and also being clearly the only weak link in the Colts’ offense. The defensive line disappeared yesterday. The amount of injuries help explain plenty of it, but I am especially disappointed about how poor Dayo Odeyingbo was yesterday, despite playing in 49 snaps he finished the game with a single tackle assist and no pressures. In the end, the biggest dud of them all was defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Even if you give him some rope because of the injuries to several starters, the defensive performance yesterday was just inexcusable, and his lack of adaptability when facing a working short passing game is baffling. I do not understand how he still has a job in the NFL.

Play of the Game: Alec Pierce’s 65-yard touchdown catch

Oh the only ray of hope in what was another grim afternoon in Duval. Silly me to think we had a chance to actually make the comeback, but nonetheless that was still a really nice play from Pierce, who clearly embraced the competition from AD Mitchell and established himself as the #2 receiver in the Colts’ offense.

Worst play of the Game: Tank Bigsby’s 65-yard touchdown run / Strip sack to end the first half

I was tempted to put in the Jags’ 85-yard touchdown pass but that was simply because of a mistake by Dallis Flowers, otherwise Bigsby’s 65-yard touchdown run was a horrendous show of effort by several players on the defense. First of all look at how Latu and Speed overcommit to the edge and allow the Jags’ running back to wipe them out with one simple cut, then Julian Blackmon fails to secure the open field and the secondary cannot track him down. The strip sack was really hurtful because it was such an avoidable mistake and one that ended up being the difference in the game.

Unsung Hero: Sam Womack

Some clutch pass breakups and tackles on the boundary, the Colts seem to have found a serviceable outside cornerback in Womack who looks like the starter at least until Brents returns.

Best position group: Wide receivers

Michael Pittman Jr. had a touchdown for the first time in the last 9 games, Alec Pierce had 3 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown, while Josh Downs finished with 9 catches most for anyone in the game. AD Mitchell even threw a 24-yard pass. The only dud was the aforementioned Mitchell who once again seemed to coward away from a ball with defenders in the vicinity, and I definitely do not want cowards on my team.

Rookie of the Week: Tanor Bortolini

Anthony Gould seems to have lost the return man job, Latu’s impact on the game was almost non-existent, AD Mitchell had an okay game but the stain of making a business decision on one play looms large, so the only other option is Bortolini, who once again filled in nicely for Ryan Kelly.