This week the Pittsburgh Steelers welcome the Indianapolis Colts to Pittsburgh with a chance to pull to .500 on the season and inch closer to the top of the AFC North. We reached out to our friends over at Colts Wire for the inside scoop on the 5-2 Colts.
1. So, I guess Andrew Luck retiring wasn’t so bad after all?
Losing your franchise quarterback is never a good thing, but the Colts were well prepared having Jacoby Brissett ready to take over. They learned in 2017 [when Luck missed the season with a shoulder injury] just how difficult life can be without a competent backup quarterback, and Brissett has been more than that. The success should also be attributed to Chris Ballard’s work rebuilding the roster over the last three offseasons as well. It also helps having a coach like Frank Reich, who is equal parts intelligent and trustworthy.
2. Who is a player on the Colts who isn’t getting enough attention right now?
That probably goes to tight end Jack Doyle, though that’s how he would prefer it. He’s not the dynamic pass catcher that Eric Ebron is, but Doyle’s contributions to the offense go far beyond the box score. He’s an elite run blocker and has arguably the safest hands in the receiving corps. Doyle is used in several ways, and he’s an integral part of the offense despite getting next to no attention.
3. If you were playing against the Colts offense, what would you do to slow them down?
The Colts really struggle when it comes to play-action. They have an aggressive trio of linebackers who are wonderful, but they can get in trouble against the play-action at times. The Colts are also struggling against tight ends, so working the seams against their two-high defensive scheme is important.
4. The Colts seem to be finding ways to win close games. What do you attribute this to?
There are many factors to this, but if I had to pin it to a major aspect, it would probably be their ability to keep teams out of the end zone. They are a true bend-don’t-break defense. They allow a lot of plays between the 20s, but once opposing offenses get inside, they really shore up. Their ability to lean on the run also helps, but they have yet to prove they can put teams away in the fourth quarter if they have a lead.
5. Give us your prediction for this week.
I originally had the Colts winning this one, but the injury to T.Y. Hilton [who is out three to four weeks with a calf issue] is going to be a big problem. I believe this is going to be a defensive battle with two solid units going at it. But I’ve got the Steelers. Steelers 19, Colts 17
