Lamar Miller (26) used his speed to run all over the Colts last week, DeMarco Murray can do the same this week (Houston Chronicle)
Week 7; Colts vs Titans: Electric Boogaloo
Ross Weber; @rweberI65
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The Titans and Colts are both not good football teams, so who will end up being worse?
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Jim Irsay, we need to talk.
Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, told USA Today this week "We could be 6-0 right now if the ball bounced our way."
Really, Jim? You can't be serious. Look, I've been a fan of Jim's in the past, even defending him after the offseason decision to retain head coach Chuck Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson to their positions despite a season most Colts fans would describe as "disastrous". But this is absolutely ludicrous. Yes, the Colts have lost some close games, and you can make the argument that the Colts had a chance to win in the second half of every single game. But 6-0 with a couple extra lucky bounces? I don't think so.
The Colts were in the game against the Denver Broncos in week two, but it was not "bad luck" that Indy couldn't keep the phenomenal Broncos front seven off of Andrew Luck. The Colts only lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars by 3 points in London on week four, but had to come back from down 23-6 to do so. Indianapolis truly had no business being in that football game. In week one and week six the Colts had leads in the fourth quarter and gave them up to end up losing. Against Detroit in the season opener, and especially against Houston last week, it was not "unlucky bounces" that caused Indianapolis to lose both matchups, it was an inept defense that looked like it couldn't stop a high school team at times.
Jim, here is the Colts current reality: this team could be 4-2, they should be 3-3, but they are 2-4. Placing the losses on "bad luck" rather than "bad drafting" or "bad coaching" is setting an unacceptable standard if this franchise ever wants to get turned around. No matter what we want to believe as fans, what Irsay says holds weight because he controls who is in charge of the franchise from here on out. If every fan in the stadium wants change, but if the owner doesn't hold the front office accountable then nothing will ever change.
Key for Colts Offense
So far this season the Tennessee Titans have been average to above average defensively, and solid on defending both the run and the pass. The best option for the Colts then is to be able to try and balance out the run and pass attack, to let them feed off of each other. While Indianapolis did fail to win last week against Houston, they did manage to break a long drought: Frank Gore ran for 106 yards, the first 100 yard rushing game for a Colt since Vick Ballard in 2012. Keep giving the ball to Gore and good things will happen for the Colts offense.
Key for Colts Defense
Last week Lamar Miller ran for 149 yards on 24 carries and absolutely torched the Colts defense almost every time he touched the ball. I talked about his speed in my preview last week and it ended up costing Indianapolis big time. This week the Colts take on DeMarco Murray, and what do you know, he's really fast too. It will be really difficult for the Colts to stop Murray at the line of scrimmage with guys like Zach Kerr and Henry Anderson out on Indianapolis' defensive line, so expect Murray to have a monster game this week.
Player to Watch
Chester Rogers is an undrafted free agent at wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, and with injuries to fellow wide outs Donte Moncreif, Phillip Dorsett and Quan Bray, Rogers now steps into the #2 wide receiver role this week against Tennessee. Rogers has shown flashes of being a good receiver in the NFL, he has good speed and can find ways to get open, but he still has a lot to prove. If Rogers has a good game, the Colts offense will be that much better today.
Key Stat
The Tennessee Titans have a -3 turnover differential so far this season, while the Colts turnover differential is at an even 0. While the Colts defense may not have a lot of talent, if they can just force Titans young quarterback Marcus Mariota to make one or two mistakes, then Indianapolis will have a chance to capitalize and potentially steal a game on the road in the division.
Final Score: Titans 27, Colts 14
While I think the Colts have a chance to win, the lack of defensive speed and talent means the Titans will use DeMarco Murray and he'll have a great game to carry Tennessee to victory.
Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, told USA Today this week "We could be 6-0 right now if the ball bounced our way."
Really, Jim? You can't be serious. Look, I've been a fan of Jim's in the past, even defending him after the offseason decision to retain head coach Chuck Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson to their positions despite a season most Colts fans would describe as "disastrous". But this is absolutely ludicrous. Yes, the Colts have lost some close games, and you can make the argument that the Colts had a chance to win in the second half of every single game. But 6-0 with a couple extra lucky bounces? I don't think so.
The Colts were in the game against the Denver Broncos in week two, but it was not "bad luck" that Indy couldn't keep the phenomenal Broncos front seven off of Andrew Luck. The Colts only lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars by 3 points in London on week four, but had to come back from down 23-6 to do so. Indianapolis truly had no business being in that football game. In week one and week six the Colts had leads in the fourth quarter and gave them up to end up losing. Against Detroit in the season opener, and especially against Houston last week, it was not "unlucky bounces" that caused Indianapolis to lose both matchups, it was an inept defense that looked like it couldn't stop a high school team at times.
Jim, here is the Colts current reality: this team could be 4-2, they should be 3-3, but they are 2-4. Placing the losses on "bad luck" rather than "bad drafting" or "bad coaching" is setting an unacceptable standard if this franchise ever wants to get turned around. No matter what we want to believe as fans, what Irsay says holds weight because he controls who is in charge of the franchise from here on out. If every fan in the stadium wants change, but if the owner doesn't hold the front office accountable then nothing will ever change.
Key for Colts Offense
So far this season the Tennessee Titans have been average to above average defensively, and solid on defending both the run and the pass. The best option for the Colts then is to be able to try and balance out the run and pass attack, to let them feed off of each other. While Indianapolis did fail to win last week against Houston, they did manage to break a long drought: Frank Gore ran for 106 yards, the first 100 yard rushing game for a Colt since Vick Ballard in 2012. Keep giving the ball to Gore and good things will happen for the Colts offense.
Key for Colts Defense
Last week Lamar Miller ran for 149 yards on 24 carries and absolutely torched the Colts defense almost every time he touched the ball. I talked about his speed in my preview last week and it ended up costing Indianapolis big time. This week the Colts take on DeMarco Murray, and what do you know, he's really fast too. It will be really difficult for the Colts to stop Murray at the line of scrimmage with guys like Zach Kerr and Henry Anderson out on Indianapolis' defensive line, so expect Murray to have a monster game this week.
Player to Watch
Chester Rogers is an undrafted free agent at wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, and with injuries to fellow wide outs Donte Moncreif, Phillip Dorsett and Quan Bray, Rogers now steps into the #2 wide receiver role this week against Tennessee. Rogers has shown flashes of being a good receiver in the NFL, he has good speed and can find ways to get open, but he still has a lot to prove. If Rogers has a good game, the Colts offense will be that much better today.
Key Stat
The Tennessee Titans have a -3 turnover differential so far this season, while the Colts turnover differential is at an even 0. While the Colts defense may not have a lot of talent, if they can just force Titans young quarterback Marcus Mariota to make one or two mistakes, then Indianapolis will have a chance to capitalize and potentially steal a game on the road in the division.
Final Score: Titans 27, Colts 14
While I think the Colts have a chance to win, the lack of defensive speed and talent means the Titans will use DeMarco Murray and he'll have a great game to carry Tennessee to victory.