The Indianapolis Colts (5-4) have to take a long look in the mirror following the embarrassing 16-12 loss they suffered at home against the Miami Dolphins (2-7) on Sunday.
Even though they were without a few starters, there is no excuse for losing to a team like the Dolphins—especially if the Colts are supposed to be considered a team bound for the playoffs.
Here’s a look at the stock report in the Week 10 loss:
Stock Up: LB Darius Leonard
The All-Pro linebacker hasn’t quite lived up to expectations this season and while he’s also dealt with some injuries, it was nice to see him return to his elite form. No one is doubting the impact Leonard has on a weekly basis, but this was truly his best game of the season.
The former second-round pick started off the game hot by punching out a fumble against Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki. He also added a sack, two tackles for loss, two passes defended and a crucial interception in the fourth quarter.
The Colts have a massive stretch of games coming up, and they will need Leonard to play like this for the second half.
Stock Down: QB Brian Hoyer
The dud of all duds on Sunday. Despite the promising outing he gave in Week 9 in relief of Jacoby Brissett, Hoyer was atrocious throwing the ball against the lowly Dolphins secondary. Whether it was ball placement or decision-making, Hoyer was a crutch that kept the Colts from winning the game.
The veteran quarterback finished completing 18-of-39 for 204 yards, one interception and three touchdowns. He also finished with a ghastly 38.8 passer rating. Two of his interceptions came on the first play of their respective drives, and his decisions on the final drive left a lot of question marks.
Hoyer will continue to be the backup. It’s not likey the Colts make a change there. But he didn’t instill too much confidence against one of the league’s worst defenses.
Stock Up: CB Marvell Tell
The Colts seemingly have no quarrel with leaning on their rookie class. Tell has been seeing an increase in snaps over the last few weeks, and Sunday marked a career-high for the USC product.
Tell played on 71.2% of the defensive snaps. That was third-most among cornerbacks behind Kenny Moore (100%) and fellow rookie Rock Ya-Sin (98%). As Pierre Desir continues to nurse his hamstring injury and Quincy Wilson continues to be an enigmatic healthy scratch, it appears Tell has truly carved out a role in the secondary.
He will slide down a spot on the depth chart when Desir returns from his hamstring injury, but the increased snap counts and solid play on Sunday show that Tell is progressing in the right direction.
Stock Down: RG Mark Glowinski
While the Colts do have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, it is becoming clear that they must address the right side of the line during the offseason. Though Glowinski signed a three-year extension, he hasn’t played to the level that earned him the new deal.
Glowinski struggled again on Sunday, and it is apparent that opposing defenses are targeting him. Whether it’s pushing him back into the pocket on a bullrush or confusing him with a stunt, he doesn’t look to have an answer for what the defense is throwing at him.
The Colts have some question marks on that right side of the offensive line. Glowinski’s play on Sunday didn’t bring them any closer to an answer.
Stock Down: S Clayton Geathers
Is this the time that Geathers begins to get phased out? After dealing with some injuries earlier in the season and with the stellar emergence of rookie Khari Willis, it appears Geathers’ time as an impact player is coming to and end.
As Willis played 91% of the defensive snaps on Sunday—and George Odum 30%—Geathers was on the field for just six plays on defense. Though he’s fully healthy (as far as we know), the Colts have made it clear they are opting to go younger at the position.
Geathers is a leader in the locker room and not a player the Colts will dismiss out of hand, but it is clear that the youngsters are taking over the secondary. That likely means Geathers is no longer a key cog in the defense.
