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liny195
Angemeldet seit:
10.08.2019
Beiträge: 43
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defense was reeling early this season.After six games ***** , it had allowed an average of 30 points, had given up 37 or more points in three consecutive losses, was languishing near the bottom of the league’s overall rankings and showed no sign of a turnaround.Today, those performances are almost recognizable. Though the names remain essentially unchanged, the Colts overcame that dismal start and have emerged as one of the NFL’s stingiest units and a key cog in Indy’s playoff run.“We feel good, we’ve been rolling,” rookie linebacker Darius Leonard said. “We just want to keep it going. We want to keep everything rolling.”Leonard and his teammates face their biggest challenge yet in Saturday’s divisional-round game at Kansas City. But the timing couldn’t be better for a young, suddenly sturdy defense that still has plenty to prove.Over the past six weeks, the Colts have given up 12.0 points per game, posted their first shutout in four years and ascended to No. 11 in the rankings. But many wonder whether the defense can hold up against the league’s highest-scoring team.So far, Indy (11-6) has passed every test. The defense has played a vital role in two five-game winning streaks. Indy is one of two teams that have not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season and have had at least one turnover in 16 of 17 games.Outsiders have noticed the turnaround by a unit once regarded as a weak link.“I think the players have bought in and they play hard,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “They’re accurate with their assignments.”Reid isn’t alone.Leonard, the league’s leading tackler, was named first-team All-Pro last week, and first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus interviewed Sunday for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching job. Though he wasn’t hired, the dramatic ascension could help Eberflus stay on the coaching radar.What’s changed? Not much personnel-wise from opening day.Defensive tackle Al Woods and linebacker Skai Moore both wound up on injured reserve. Margus Hunt moved from defensive end to defensive tackle and Pierre Desir claimed one of the starting cornerback spots. Otherwise, the lineup remained as consistent as Eberflus’ message.“When you keep doing the same things over and over again and you get good at the fundamentals of the game, then you can start adding a little bit to your package because the guys understand the basics,” Eberflus said.“You can never move on or never forget the basics of what your system is about. That to me is the hustle, the intensity, taking the ball away and being smart players.”Eberflus, initially hired by Josh McDaniels and retained by Frank Reich after McDaniels backed out of the job, scrapped the 3-4 defensive front from previous coaching staff and installed the Tampa-2 preferred by general manager Chris Ballard.Reich was on board, too ***** , remembering how the system helped the Colts win a Super Bowl during his first stint with the team.The scheme relies largely on speed and trust and was a perfect fit for a team trying to rebuild. Only three full-time starters returned in the same spot this season while a fourth, Jabaal Sheard, moved from outside linebacker to defensive end, but the simplicity shortened the learning curve for everyone, including the youngsters.And after six games, things started to mesh. Leonard became the breakout star, the pass rush became more consistent and the run defense tightened up.“We go into this game knowing that we can beat the best,” Leonard said. “Once you go in as an underdog, there’s a lot more chips on your shoulder. It makes you want to play harder. It makes you want to win more.”NOTES: Four-time Pro Bowl receiver T.Y. Hilton (ankle) is one of five players who did not practice Wednesday. The others are defensive tackle Denico Autry (shoulder), receiver Ryan Grant (toe), safety Malik Hooker (hip/foot) and defensive end Tyquan Lewis (knee). Hilton expects to play. … Tight end Eric Ebron (hip), receiver Dontrelle Inman (shoulder/finger) and Sheard (knee) were limited in practice. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts are borrowing an old adage from Bill Belichick this week.They’re on to the Patriots.Less than 24 hours after a gutsy fourth-down call backfired in a wrenching overtime loss to AFC South rival Houston, coach Frank Reich walked into the team complex and turned his attention to Thursday night’s game.“It just appears to me the maturity level of these young players are eager to get on to the next game, just eager to get ready,” Reich said Monday.“I think the most important thing is how are we going to take care of them physically, get your bodies right and get these game plans in quickly and just get everything focused on New England.”First, though, Reich did replay the decision in his head repeatedly.Upon further reflection, he even walked back some of his postgame comments to explain with more clarity what he was thinking.Players appreciated the fact Reich had enough faith in his offense and defense to take a chance on fourth-and-4 from his 43-yard line with less than 30 seconds left in overtime. Afterward, everyone including Reich acknowledged they didn’t want to settle for a tie.“I probably should give context to the 10 out of 10,” Reich said, referring to his postgame comments. “I mean it’s probably not a complete absolute as much as it is a mindset of being aggressive. There are always a lot of things to consider. To say it’s an absolute, it was emotional yesterday, a tough loss. The mindset is we’re going to be aggressive.”Everyone from Andrew Luck to record-breaking kicker Adam Vinatieri backed Reich in a game most figured they wouldn’t even watch on film because of the short week.But the reality is Reich is here ***** , in Indy talking about New England, because Josh McDaniels isn’t.Had Belichick’s longtime offensive coordinator followed through on his verbal commitment to take the Colts’ coaching job following February’s Super Bowl loss, this game would be billed as yet another chapter in the long-running pupil-versus-instructor series.Instead, when McDaniels backed out of the deal, Colts general manager Chris Ballard plucked the offensive coordinator from Super Bowl champion Philadelphia and he’s been a big hit in Indy (1-3) — even in light of Sunday’s risky call.Beating New England would give fans even more to celebrate early in Reich’s tenure.But he’s likely to be working with a short-handed roster.Left tackle Anthony Castonzo has missed all four games with an injured hamstring and it appears unlikely he’ll return this week. Right tackle Joe Haeg went on injured reserve last week and his left ankle is now in a cast.Pro Bowler receiver T.Y. Hilton left Sunday’s game with a chest injury, returned and then left again in the second half with a hamstring injury. Reich doesn’t anticipate having Hilton at New England (2-2).Running back Marlon Mack has missed three of the first four games this season with a hamstring injury and the Colts have two cornerbacks, Quincy Wilson and Kenny Moore II, in the concussion protocol. Another cornerback Nate Hairston walked into the locker room Monday with his lower left leg in a walking boot.Hairston, Hilton, Wilson, Moore, Pro Bowl tight end Jack Doyle (hip), center Ryan Kelly (hand), linebacker Darius Leonard (ankle) and defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway (calf) did not practice Monday.At least the Colts might have running back Robert Turbin back in the mix following a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancers. He’s been Indy’s top short-yardage runner the past two seasons and could play a key, albeit limited, role if Indy activates him before Tuesday afternoon’s deadline.“I feel good. I’m ready to roll,” Turbin said. “I just trained like normally do. I always train with pads and a helmet on, and I try to mimic routes and things like that. I got a chance to go back to my high school and run around with those guys a little bit.”But the seven-year veteran knows the competition will be much different with the defending AFC champions on the opposite sideline.Houston already appears to be a distant memory.And all the talk inside the locker room seems to focus on ending a seven-game losing streak to the Pats that dates back to Belichick’s own failed fourth-down decision in 2009.“You’ve got to move on from this one real fast,” Reich said. “We know how quick a turnaround that is here. A very well-coached team, a good football team. So all eyes on New England.”Notes: Castonzo, Mack and safety Clayton Geathers (knee) were all limited in practice Monday. … Tight end Eric Ebron (knee), safety Malik Hooker (hip), kicker Adam Vinatieri (right groin) and linebacker Anthony Walker (knee) were all full participants at practice.
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