Behind Enemy Lines: Colts vs Titans
Behind Enemy Lines: Colts vs. Titans
Prelude:
The Colts held off the winless San Francisco 49ers last week, and good news keeps rolling in. Andrew Luck has been incrementally adding more to his practice regimen, with a return likely in the next few weeks (month?). Center Ryan Kelly also returned against San Fran and played like he’d never left. Safety Clayton Geathers is now the only significant contributor who has yet to return to the sidelines (or offer any glimpse of when he might do so).
As for this week, the team heads south to face division rival Tennesse, who is also dealing with an injured quarterback: Marcus Mariota missed last week’s 16-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins and is listed as questionable ahead of the Monday Night Football showdown. The Colts have not been stellar in primetime games under Chuck Pagano, but they do boast an 11-game winning streak against Tennessee, so something has to give.
Scheme:
Head Coach Mike Mularkey believes in running the ball as the basis of his offense. The numbers bear that out, as Tennessee is 15th in the league in rushing attempts (131), ninth in rushing yards per game (124.8), second in yards per rush (4.76), and second in rushing touchdowns (seven, behind Indianapolis’ eight!). When Mariota is healthy, he adds an element of surprise to the downhill styles of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry; he is their third-leading rusher in terms of carries and yards, with a scary 5.8 yards per carry average to boot.
Their passing game is nothing to write home about, especially without first-round pick Corey Davis at receiver. Davis has not played since September 17 with a hamstring injury and has already been ruled out for this game as well. Tight end Delanie Walker has played well against the Colts in the past, and Indianapolis’ inside linebackers aren’t exactly renowned for their coverage abilities. He may be one to watch.
Octogenarian Dick LeBeau is in his third season coordinating Tennessee’s defense, but the results thus far have not been what one would expect of a LeBeau-led unit. They are 30th in the NFL in points allowed per game (28.4), 24th in pass yards allowed per game (235), and 18th in rush yards allowed per game (110). Of course, defense is more than just yards allowed, but 28+ points per game is not good–*sigh* the Colts are dead last at 31.8.
Key Players:
While the team has struggled defensively, outside linebacker Derrick Morgan could still wreck things for the Colts. He has recorded three sacks to this point, and he must be accounted for in pass protection schemes. Morgan does not have a high tackle volume, but a sack here and a tipped pass there could make the difference in the ballgame. Talented defensive lineman Jurrell Casey is second on the team with two sacks.
On offense, the man to watch is Matt Cassel. If he is the starting quarterback, the Colts suddenly have a much higher chance of success than if he isn’t (this kind of in-depth football knowledge is why you read these articles, right, folks?!). Seriously, though, Cassel has never been more than a journeyman backup who is slightly better than Scott Tolzien but slightly worse than Brian Hoyer. He’s nowhere near the threat of Marcus Mariota. If Mariota’s hamstring has healed enough to let him play and start on Monday, this is an entirely different game.
Prediction:
Mariota starts and does just enough to squeak by the Colts, who struggle to find traction offensively and turn the ball over multiple times in the second half.
Titans 21, Colts 18.
Thanks for reading, and, as always, Go Colts!
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