5 Things Gotten As Colts Respond In Major Way

admin | December 17, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Behind 30 unanswered points on Saturday, the Colts earned an absolutely massive mid-December win in Week 15.

The Colts overcame a poor start on Saturday, with quite the dominating statement the rest of the way in beating the Steelers (7-7) 27-13.

What did we learn from the Colts moving to 8-6 on the year?

FIVE THINGS LEARNED

1. Offensive Line Response

Offensive Line Response:

There are many of positive reasons for a club going from having 33 straight points scored against them (as the Colts did to conclude last week in Cincinnati and start Saturday in Pittsburgh) to then scoring 30 unanswered. But I’m going to concentrate on the Colts offensive line’s response on Saturday. One could argue that Indy’s trench effort against the Bengals was one of the worst of the season.

And, after some early T.J. Watt concerns, the Colts offensive line settled in to manage the line of scrimmage the rest of the way on Saturday. Trey Sermon (17 carries for 88 yards) and Tyler Goodson (11 carries for 69 yards) each averaged more than 5 yards per run.

Routine short-yardage attempts resulted in the Colts offensive line pushing the line of scrimmage several yards to the positive. On Saturday, the run game’s recent troubles were nowhere to be found. The Colts want to be about this, and they were not last week in Cincinnati. The Colts handled the line of scrimmage considerably better than they have in recent weeks on a day when the Steelers had every right to load the box (especially when Michael Pittman Jr. exited in the first half). The icing on the cake was a 15-play drive in the third/fourth quarter that took nearly 9 minutes off the clock.

To return to Watt, he was a game-changer early in the game on Saturday, but the Colts regrouped to keep him quiet in the remaining three quarters. This overall trench effort was required on a day when the Colts were dealing with major skill position injuries and had to overcome a couple of more special teams blunders (should we be concerned about Matt Gay’s kicker yips?).

2. Gardner Minshew’s Best Game Of Season

Gardner Minshew’s Best Game Of Season:

Who could have predicted Gardner Minshew’s performance? That was possibly Minshew’s best start of the season. He was accurate, avoided turnovers, and even prolonged some plays early in the game, when the Colts desperately needed it. Shane Steichen, as usual, sought to get Minshew moving with some quick-rhythm movement. Despite losing his top running back and wide receiver, Minshew remained calm and proceeded to deliver on-target balls, despite a few of touchdowns dropped.

He led a stunning end-of-half TD drive to give Indianapolis a lead at halftime. Minshew ended the game 18-of-28 for 215 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. His passer rating of 123.4 was a season best. The Colts did not have to overcome their quarterback’s performance on Saturday. He had a significant role in their victory in this game.

Other times this season, the Colts have triumphed despite Minshew. On Saturday, however, his performance helped to obscure Gay’s poor kicking performance, a blocked punt, and an early two-score deficit. Minshew was looking more like the ‘back of his baseball card,’ which we hadn’t seen in a month or so. If the Colts can get this Minshew in the last run, they will be a playoff club.

3. Unsung Heroes, Key Injuries To Watch

Unsung Heroes, Key Injuries To Watch:

Both the Colts and the Steelers had to rely on their depth on Saturday, particularly throughout the game. Gardner Minshew, Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson, and D.J. Montgomery all contributed to the Colts’ victory. You had Minshew extending a third-down early in the game, sparking a Colts squad that was behind 13-0.

Montgomery overcame a TD drop on 4th-and-goal in the second quarter to provide two strong runs after catch later in the quarter for a critical touchdown just before halftime. And both Sermon and Goodson were consistent and dependable behind an unstoppable Indianapolis offensive line. Yes, the Steelers were destroyed at inside linebacker and safety, but in a battle of backups, it was Shane Steichen who led the Colts depth to much greater success.

In one sense, winning despite losing your starting QB, starting RB (who then left in the first half), and top wideout is plainly impressive. Of course, the reality that follows cannot be ignored. How serious is Zack Moss’ arm injury and Michael Pittman Jr’s concussion? If Jonathan Taylor (right thumb) is able to return next Sunday in Atlanta, the absence of Moss may be reduced. There is some hope that this is achievable. Losing Pittman Jr., on the other hand, would be more serious, considering how much it would put a very inexperienced bunch of outside wideouts to the test, and given the excellent consistent productivity MPJ has achieved this season.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the two injuries is that they were both caused by unlawful Steelers defenders (a horse collar tackle on Moss and an unnecessary roughness hit on Pittman Jr.). While Saturday’s victory was impressive, these losses cannot be overlooked as the Colts enter the last three weeks of the season. Still, what an effort by Steichen and his team to score 30 points while missing so many key offensive players.

4. E.J. Speed Splashing

E.J. Speed Splashing:

You could argue that missing E.J. Speed last week was the most significant Colts injury loss (along with Braden Smith, Jonathan Taylor, and JuJu Brents). On Saturday, Speed made his presence known with a tackle for loss on the first play of the game, and then again on Pittsburgh’s first drive of the second half (with Julian Blackmon making a terrific recovery just before falling out of bounds).

These are the types of plays Speed has demonstrated his ability to make. It’s a significant reason why he deserved more playing time, as the Colts persisted with Shaquille Leonard until he was cut. A playmaking day from the unit in front of them was welcomed on a day when the Colts had some rookie cornerback moments. The return of Speed and a massive third-quarter turnover set the tone for a strong second half.