After a surprising finish to the 2018 season for the Indianapolis Colts, the expectations are extremely high. So high that some might consider them the most-hyped team of the offseason.
With a chance to take back the AFC South in 2019, the Colts are trying to focus on taking it one day at a time. For safety Matthias Farley, that’s exactly what he feels the team needs to do in order to counter the high expectations surrounding Indy.
“Yeah, I mean you can’t get caught up in it. I think that’s first and foremost. You have to take everything as it comes day in and day out,” Farley told reporters Tuesday. “We preach focusing on little things, the one percent better – it’s not just a slogan or something. Everybody has really bought into that, believes that and really focuses to get that one percent better daily.”
Head coach Frank Reich coined the “one percent” slogan in regards to the Colts in his first campaign. They also took on the mantra of “1-0,” which is simply another way of taking it one game at a time during the regular season and focusing on the task at hand.
Even with elevated expectations for the 2019 season, that slogan is the driving force for the team’s mentality once again.
“No, it’s the same. Yeah, it’s going to continue to be the same too,” Farley said of the slogan. “Yeah, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The former undrafted safety finds himself in a heated position battle at safety. With his roster spot on the line, Farley is battling with George Odum and fourth-round pick Khari Willis for a role in the secondary behind expected starters Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers.
His focus, though? Helping the guy next to him get better.
“You are pushing the guy next to you to do the same thing and he is pushing you when you don’t feel it,” Farley said. “I think all of that collectively really brings everyone together and elevates the play of everybody.”
The Colts begin the hunt for a top-four playoff seed with the preseason opener on Thursday night and while that is ultimate goal for Indy, the focus will be on the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field.
