Who would have thought hiring the failed Bengals DC wouldn't work in Indianapolis. A stroke of genius hire! (OK, 'failed' is a matter of opinion, he had one good playoff run, but...)
And good thing Ballard spend draft capital and money finally on this defense. Big point of emphasis by him. The results are showing...'
"The Colts’ defense now holds the NFL record for most yards allowed in the first two games of a season with a jaw-dropping 1,029. The 1976 Seahawks previously held the record allowing 884 total yards." (saw that on a reddit repost)
I thought Carlie Irsay was a football gym rat wiz kid? She'd better clean house soon! During the season, so they have plenty of time for the next GM to start to right the ship. Need to stop it from sinking before being able to turn it around.
Fire Ballard! And yes Steichen is a dumbass chickens shit. Play to tie, instead of win? That was unbelievable. Of course Jones didn't seem too aware on a couple of key down and distance situations, but maybe scrambling on third was all he had, but he gained 6 to cut it to 8 yards. GO FOR IT!
I disagree that it's always better to go for the win in the NFL. The goal is to make the playoffs and a regular season tie is a result that can make progress towards that goal. A win feels better but can be the wrong decision.
For example, in 2018, Frank Reich notably went for the win against Houston in OT (granted, in much worse field position than last night) and didn't get it and then Houston was able to gain enough yards to kick a game winner. After the game Reich said something to the effect of "We don't play to tie."
As the season unfolded, the Colts shook off their awful start to the year and finished the season 10-6 and got the 6th seed to play at Houston in the playoffs, which they won. If they had tied Houston, Indianapolis would have won the division with equal 10-5-1 records and having won at Houston in the head-to-head.
tl;dr - strategically, going for a tie CAN end up being to a team's benefit. Similar to choosing to punt vs going for it on 4th down or kicking a long FG in college. We heard the boo birds come out Saturday when Cignetti made that decision, but it probably was the right decision to make.
Who said going for the win is always better? I don't think anything in that zip code at all.
But here, tie is BEST case. 🙄 You need to stat the value of a win vs the value of a tie, and include the chance you don't GET the tie.
That was poor play calling after that great call that got them there. Did everybody else know what play was coming on first down? Chiefs did.
And 4th and 8 is probably at worst ON THE FENCE in that situation due to what giving the ball to Mahomes there means and value of win over a tie. So we turtled. On the fence, it's no surprise which side of the fence Shane picked.
I'd keep Steichen though, he might learn. He shows promise to me.
But Anarumo has got to go. And much more importantly Ballard has got to go. A TERRIBLE General Manager. Terrible. Good idea spending two firsts for Sauce Gardner when the team is miles from being a true contender with very few holes.
@openwheel - The 2024 Baltimore Ravens team set the record of 918 yds allowed through the first 2 games. The Colts at least fought yesterday but damnit they are frustrating to watch.
Still don’t have the analytics of the new overtime rules figured out yet… I think taking defense first is still the right move so you know what you need on your possession? Makes the drive 4 down territory the entire time essentially too so you give yourself an extra play…
But at the same time, signing up to tying the score once you do know what you need means you’re giving your opponent 2 offensive possessions to your 1.
Fun debate. Think Steichen’s gut reaction of going for it on that 4th and 8 would’ve been the right call. Would rather the outcome of the game be decided by your possession than the other team’s, especially when that other team is Mahomes/Reid in a time crunch situation.
Overall positive though, whatever gets the loser stink of Ballard/Steichen out of the building as soon as possible.
Other than when Polian was there, this Colts franchise has been a complete clown show. He was the only adult in the room during the entire 40+ years they've been in Indy. I stopped devoting any time to them when they ruined Luck.
Carlie does have a dump truck, so there's your bright spot.
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan. POTFB
Other than when Polian was there, this Colts franchise has been a complete clown show. He was the only adult in the room during the entire 40+ years they've been in Indy. I stopped devoting any time to them when they ruined Luck.
Carlie does have a dump truck, so there's your bright spot.
She needs to haul it off the sideline and back up to the front office to start reviewing the resumes of the next head coach and GM. Stop the performative BS, put the headset away, and do your damn job.
@jj_mcclure Dude, she doesn't know squadoosh about ball or running a team. If she did, Ballard would be gone.
Nobody is coming to save the Colts.
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan. POTFB
