Insider: 10 Colts thoughts on a 38-10 beatdown loss to the Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ten thoughts on the Colts' 38-10 loss to the Giants at MetLife Stadium:
1.I find the word "embarrassing" to be one of the more overused in sports. A loss itself is not embarrassing, because every game has a winner and a loser. A blowout is going to happen here and there against a great team. The game moves fast and guys slip up sometimes because they're human. But what's happening to this Colts franchise right now is truly embarrassing. It's a run that started with the decision to bench Matt Ryan for a scout team quarterback in Sam Ehlinger, and the moments are getting too long to list from there. It's only been nine weeks since then, but it's felt like nine years for everyone involved. I'm confident when I say the previous nine years of Colts football did not display the types of lows this stretch has.
Colts have lost their fight, soul
2. Sunday in the Meadowlands was the latest. Of course, we knew the Colts weren't going to go on the road at this stage and beat a playoff team. Again, simply losing isn't embarrassing. But this team has completely lost its fight and its soul. It left it at halftime of the Vikings game, and since that moment, the Colts have been outscored 97-16. On Sunday, that meant losing 38-10 to a team that hadn't won by more than eight all season. This would be a rough stretch for Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference, but this is an NFL team, one with a handful of Pro Bowl players on it. But the body language and tone we're seeing and hearing from Colts players and executives right now show an embarrassed team that is begging for the season -- and this bizarre experiment -- to be over.
3. The late penalties from Tony Brown and Bobby Okereke show glimpses of this frustration. But the most public display was the moment where Nick Foles was writhing in pain on the ground as Kayvon Thibodeaux performed snow angels and not a single Colts offensive lineman did much about it. The fight is quite simply gone. It has been since halftime of the Vikings game.
4. Let's start with the beginning of the game. The Colts showed some sound defense, as they have most of this season, and pitched a first-quarter shutout against a Giants offense that's incredibly well-schemed but not the most talented. They again struggled to move the ball with the backfield of Nick Foles and Zack Moss. But they did have a moment, following a highlight-reel jump ball catch from Parris Campbell, to find the end zone and an early touchdown lead. They had 4th-and-1 at the Giants' 5-yard line and lined up ready to go when Jeff Saturday called a timeout. Nick Foles fired the ball into the turf as the field-goal unit came on to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
Why didn't the Colts go for it on fourth down?
5. I understand that this team is offensively challenged. But that understanding should tell you that it's unlikely they'll get this close to the end zone again, where a first down could get them four plays within the 4-yard line. Going for it there and going up a touchdown would be an expression of belief from the coaching staff to the players and a rare chance for the Colts defense to protect something. Instead, they kicked a field goal that would become a footnote in a beatdown. So much for Saturday coaching without fear, huh?
6. Saturday is going to interview for the job at the end of the season, along with other candidates. I thought his answer this week, when asked what his case will be, was telling: He interrupted the reporter and said he's not focused on those big-picture thoughts at the moment. It's the only time he's done that so far, and I don't blame him, because the case is as simple as this right now: He's friends with the owner. That's it. His team is 1-6 with the worst offense I have ever seen, and it has no fight, no togetherness, no identity, no scheme, no progress and no hope. Saturday will always be a Colts legend for his playing days, and by all accounts he's a great man in a very difficult position. But this is least hopeful I've seen a franchise get before, and I've covered the Marc Trestman Bears and the Matt Patricia Lions. These guys need a serious injection of life -- something with a chance of working this time.
7. I don't really blame the players that much for what's happening. The Colts have a flawed roster, yes, and we've been over the failures of the highest-paid offensive line in the league, which deserves further blame for the teetering culture after not sticking up for an injured Nick Foles while Kayvon Thibodeaux performed snow angels on the ground next to him. Rodrigo Blankenship shouldn't have returned as kicker and lost his job for it. But beyond those pieces, every other part of this team has either played well and been wasted (like the defense) or has been set up to fail by the coaches, executives and owner (quarterbacks, Jonathan Taylor, wide receivers, tight ends and in some ways the defense, by virtue of playing with such a bad offense). They're playing 17 games of a physical sport with nonstop distractions and dysfunction and players in key positions they're not ready for, and those leaks are going to get exposed at the highest level of football. It's become physically, mentally and emotionally draining on all of them, and rather than find solutions, the men above them just keep creating more problems.
A positive: Colts tight end Jelani Woods
8. I liked the screen play the Colts ran in the second quarter for Jelani Woods, allowing one of the fastest tight ends you’ll see to gain steam and rip off an explosive play. It came back due to a Braden Smith penalty, which is just where this offense is at the moment, making everything a little harder on itself. But Woods’ skill set has flashed consistently in the second half of the year in the limited chances he’s gotten. This is the type of play the Colts need to run every game with him to force defenders to chase and tackle an elite athlete.
9. Bobby Okereke had a sharp tackle in the hole on Saquon Barkley in the second quarter that might have saved a house call and the latest Barkley highlight. Somehow, that was one of 17 tackles for him in this game. He also forced a fumble, which the Colts followed up by gaining one yard and missing a field goal. It’s flown way under the radar this season, but Okereke has delivered on a contract year in a way that has him looking like one of the more versatile linebackers in the game. Credit to him and to linebackers coach Richard Smith, who has had a phenomenal season with Okereke and Zaire Franklin.
10. I don’t think the Colts will re-sign Okereke unless his market softens and they have concerns about Shaquille Leonard’s return from another back surgery. Franklin is a Pro Bowl alternate who has taken enough strides as a coverage defender that you can be more than comfortable with him being a full-time player there. If that's the case, Okereke made him some money at a very difficult position to do so in this league. It's unfortunate that there wasn't a payoff to the Colts, but he's been a consummate pro all season long.
Contact Colts insider Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts vs. Giants: 10 thoughts on a 38-10 beatdown loss
