I was able to watch the game in real time this week, as the Cowboys coverage reached all the way to the Southeast coast. When you get two teams that are not very good, sometimes a competitive game can take on the look of the teams playing well. I think this game took on that effect, at least at times. The Colts showing might not have been bad against a playoff caliber team, but the Boys came to town riding a 3 win mule. Neither team is going anywhere.
We might say that we kept it close and had some
good plays, but I think Dallas would point to multiple penalties hiding the fact that they outgained us by a couple hundred yards. Cee Dee did what many WRs do against the Colts, in the form of just going off. It didn’t matter that Pickins was out for the game and we have two good cover corners, as we seem to periodically let one person beat us.
For the Colts part, it wasn’t brutal, and if coached by a slew of other offensive or defensive minds, they could have won. Expectations can’t be too high when you have traded your best offensive and defensive players (team captains to boot), while actively discussing other pieces of varying values. Your QB hasn’t demonstrated that he is healthy enough to be trusted with an offense and you have one interior defensive lineman that you can count on against the run.
When we write Shane’s Colts coaching eulogy, and we will soon enough, traces of this game could be included. I will always believe that Jones was the better option than Richardson, until he wasn’t, which may have been game 1 this year. Jones is not willing to look past the outlet, which is far too often short of the sticks, even on 3rd down. He’s also not nearly as accurate from the pocket or on the run as his career numbers suggest. Even further, defenses do not have to honor his ability to beat you with his legs. Today, he got out there in space with one man to beat, or to find a receiver, and he couldn’t exploit it. SS’s end of game and half decisions just make you want to kick him.
The defense gave up another 500+ yards. The lack of interior D is becoming clear with Buck gone. Tillery, Smith, and some guy named Givens (I swear, I didn’t know he was on the team), were rotating around Grove, but not effectively. I don’t know how long Haulcey will be out, but upon his return, I would have Wohler opposite Allen at LB, at least on passing downs. He is listed at 6’2” 213. Leonard once reported that he felt best, playing at 212, so Wohler is big enough to handle it and possibly the most willing tackler on the team.
I saw enough to move on from JT. I know that everyone has a line drawn in the sand that they expect as a return, but I think we might blink at the deadline. He is the only player that will be under contract for next year, that I would expect a reasonable return for. I don’t know where the “price” we expect in return came from? The Colts have always been tight lipped, so why do we think that someone from the organization shared a price? I think that we as fans are buying into the speculation of those near the Colts, but not representing the Colts. I’d trade him simply because I think we can get as much out of the position for far less money, so I’d take a haul that most would not be happy with.
I doubt that Dodds will have to answer the questions about the return he gets for traded players, as I haven’t heard him comment on the two he made, or toward any of the rumored deals. As for that, I think there is a lot of misinformation floating around about what has been offered. We have watched DJ play all season and based on that play, who believes that he is better than what they have in his current state? Too many dots are trying to be connected. Jones is currently not the QB that Minnesota saw in practices for a half of a season, two years ago.
If they don’t move Downs or AR, it could be as simple as sending a message. If you want traded from the Colts, talk to the brass, not the press. We have facilitated deals for players who want to move on, or even cut them to do so, but it has always been perceived as us doing the player a solid, rather than caving. My main prediction is that most wont be happy with either our lack of movement, the return on a deal, or both. We are sort of in pitchfork mode, so I don’t know exactly what we could do that would make the majority of us happy.
As far as positives from the game, I’d say Tenuta earned a start. From my perspective he looked to be an upgrade, but the Cowboys are not exactly known for their D. I like McGowan and as I have said, I wouldn’t be overly upset if I watched 20 instead of 28 carrying the load. I can’t always tell the difference anyway, as those numbers are hard to distinguish.
On D, Allen will be fine with the green dot, unless he was the one telling the safety not to help. Wohlers was cleaning up a lot runs, just too far past the line of scrimmage. JTT is not a bust. I think Curry could be effective as a run stopping MLB in short yardage as well as offering some Edge help. I saw that Tankathon mocked us a DL at pick 38 and I can’t argue with that logic.
What stood out to you?
