Colts vs Eagles: Winners and losers from week three

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The Colts fell in their week three contest on the road against the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles showed the kind of resilience Womens Anthony Walker Jersey , toughness, and talent required to win a Super Bowl, while the Colts looked inconsistent, banged up, and struggled at times. In other words, they looked like a young team still finding their footing. Still, the Colts were in the game in the final minutes with a chance to win, despite a terrible offensive game and a ton of penalties. There were lots of things to take away from this game and many players in both the winners and losers column. So without further ado, let’s jump right into them.WinnersDarius LeonardThere are a few things you can generally count on to surface with rookie players at the NFL level. Even some of the best tend to be somewhat inconsistent from week to week. That hasn’t been the case through three weeks for Leonard. He has notched 41 total tackles through three weeks of this season. That number is good for a tie for 4th most through the first three games of an NFL season. What did Leonard do in his 3rd game? He had 13 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 2 QB hits, and a pass defended. The Colts simply can’t ask for a better performance from a rookie, and Leonard has helped to start solidifying this team’s identity on a young defense. Anthony WalkerWhile we’re in the linebacker group, how about Anthony Walker? Not to be greatly outdone by Leonard, Walker played a big role in the game as well with 9 tackles, a pass defended, and an interception. Walker has been a solid player in the defense alongside Leonard, and the pair have definitely lifted the linebacker play substantially from any thing we’ve seen in the past. Against a tough assignment in terms of limiting the Eagles’ tight ends, Walker did an admirable job and made a key turnover that resulted in points. Margus HuntThis feels like a broken record, but Margus Hunt and Darius Leonard have become frequent fliers when discussing team winners. Hunt is off to a dominating season with a strip sack and fumble recovery, 4 tackles, with 3 tackles for loss.Hunt is first in the league in tackles for a loss through three games Authentic Darius Leonard Jersey , and Darius Leonard is second. Not bad for a guy who hasn’t had a major impact in this league and turned 31 this summer. At his current pace, Hunt is trending toward a double-digit sack season that the Colts desperately need in order to be competitive.Kemoko TurayBill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsAnother rookie who had a solid performance against an excellent offensive line was defensive end Kemoko Turay. Turay managed 1.5 sacks, 3 tackles, and 2 QB hits. Turay has a great first step and has been showing flashes each week so far, but had previously been unable to get home. If the Colts can get consistent production from another rookie, it will bode very well for this team’s future. Losers4th Quarter PenaltiesThe Colts were killed by late game penalties, and there were 3 in particular that really made things tough on both sides of the ball. The Eagles had the ball early in the 4th quarter, and drove from their 25-yard line all the way down the field to take the lead, scoring a touchdown. The drive took 11:58 seconds off the clock. The most devastating penalty might have been the first one. Leonard got a sack that put the Eagles at 2nd and 20. Then, an offensive holding call brought the Eagles to a 2nd down and 26 on their own 20-yard line. The Colts defense had them in excellent position and then had that deficit erased by a defensive holding penalty on Nate Hairston. Margus Hunt, Pierre Desir, Jabaal Sheard, and Al-Quadin Muhammad all added penalties on the drive, allowing the Eagles to methodically move down the field and take over the game, leaving little time for the offense, which had struggled all game, to retake the lead. Overall, this is to be expected of young defenses. However, Hunt, Sheard, and Desir aren’t young, and have to have better discipline in these critical situations, although Sheard’s call was a questionable one.Andrew LuckPhoto by Elsa/Getty ImagesI am not going to overreact to this game Authentic J'Marcus Webb Jersey , but there is a tough reality we need to look at in terms of a certain stat. In 2013, Luck experienced his lowest yards per catch average of 11.1. So far this season he is sitting at 7.8. While his completion percentage is through the roof, this one-dimensional passing game simply won’t fly. The Eagles were torched through the air in week 2 by the Buccaneers, yet the Colts never even attempted to test them downfield. Even with the game on the line, the Colts played it safe and Luck did not consistently look downfield during the closing minutes of the 4th quarter. Combine this with the fact that Frank Reich very oddly brought in Jacoby Brissett to throw a final “hail mary” at the end of the game, and it raises serious questions about Andrew Luck’s downfield ability. It is altogether possible that the game plan is heavily catering to a beaten-up offensive line. When Anthony Castonzo and Jack Doyle are back in the lineup we may see the Andrew Luck of old make an appearance. However, right now we seem to have a quarterback who is either uncomfortable with, or unwilling to push the ball down the field and take deep shots against defenses. Luck still managed to lead the team in rushing yards, and his movement in the pocket remains excellent. It is too early to completely freak out about anything, but if Luck continues relying only on checkdowns over the course of this season, this team will not be able to win many games. Running GamePhoto by Elsa/Getty ImagesI get it, the Eagles are a very good team against the run. However, this is both what your offensive line is best at blocking for and a means to set up your passing game. The Colts inability to run the ball is a major part of what allowed the Eagles to absolutely dominate the time of possession. Admittedly, they are limited in what they have in terms of their backs, but this was a close game. There was no point where the score dictated the way they needed to call plays. The Colts ran the ball just 12 times in this entire game. Jordan Wilkins had just 6 carries despite being their most successful back thus far. Nyheim Hines was used effectively in the passing game, but ran the ball just 5 times. By essentially giving up on the run, the Colts allowed the Eagles’ defense to key off on the passing game, and since they also didn’t really ever threaten the defense with deep shots, it made the job of the defense much more straightforward. You can’t make a defensive coordinator’s job this easy and expect to win against a team with this kind of talent.3rd Down Conversions and Red Zone EfficiencyPhoto by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesTwo areas where the Colts had done relatively well were in terms of converting third downs, where they led the NFL handily, and in red zone efficiency, where the week before they were 3 for 3 in the red zone. This week saw a full reversal of that. The Colts converted on just 2 of 12 third downs, and were 1 for 5 in the red zone. You can’t be that ineffective in those areas and beat quality teams. If the Colts had performed even slightly better www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com , they would have walked away with a win.Grading Andrew Luck vs the Baltimore Ravens Andrew Luck’s second game did not go as smoothly as his first, but every rep he takes is a step in the right direction. Below are breakdowns on each of Luck’s 13 official pass attempts. A video link to all his throws is embedded below. 1st Passing Attempt — Incomplete Pass to Chester Rogers (Short)The first throw to Rogers wasn’t terrible, but it probably wasn’t the right decision. During Luck’s five step-drop, he stares down Rogers the entire way and tries to force it into a tight window. The throw is slightly off the mark and Rogers isn’t able to adjust properly. Had Luck taken his time (he had a nice pocket to work with), he would’ve realized that Jack Doyle was the much safer, smarter throw to make.2nd Passing Attempt — Incomplete Pass to Chester Rogers (Short)This was a fantastic call by the defense. The Ravens effectively blitzed Luck by stunting the weak-side 3 technique defensive tackle and the running back wasn’t able to recognize the stunt and make the block. When Luck attempts to step up in the pocket, he realizes that the unblocked defender is barreling down the middle. Luck makes the wrong decision by forcing a throw off his back foot. Tough to blame Luck, so this play should be chalked up to a great defensive play call by the Ravens.3rd Passing Attempt — Pass Intercepted - Intended for Jack DoyleThis entire play is ugly from start to finish. Luck initially cheats his drop by not crossing over properly. After he starts to roll out, he decides to try to force a pass to Jack Doyle who was short of the end-zone but past the first down marker. This was an extremely tight throw that was not worth making in the 1st quarter of a game. In this situation, he must take his medicine, throw the ball away and take his three points. Turnovers in the red-zone are a killer and this turnover ended up costing the Colts the game (as they lost by 1).4th Passing Attempt — 16 Yard Completion to Jack DoyleThis was a great bounce-back play. The play action was sold nicely, he gets his lower body into position nicely and fires a strike to Doyle in the right position. He gets a nice amount of velocity on the pass and it’s placed perfectly. 5th Passing Attempt —Incomplete Pass to Ryan Grant (Deep)The decision wasn’t bad, even though he was slightly late on the throw (you don’t want to make back shoulder passes too far down the field and with the safety screaming over the top). The pass sailed on him a bit, due to his shoulder elevating when throwing the pass (his shoulders should be parallel to the ground on these types of throws). When the shoulder elevates, the pass usually sails and that’s what happens here. In short, it was a good decision, but the pass sailed.6th Passing Attempt — 16 Yard Completion to Jack DoyleThis was probably his best pass of the game. He takes a very nice 5-step drop, recognizes the pressure from the outside, steps up nicely in the pocket and fires a strike to Doyle into a small window. He gets a lot of velocity on the pass thanks to him stepping up in the pocket and he did all of this on 3rd and 12. 7th Passing Attempt — 4 Yard Completion to Josh FergusonThis was a smart checkdown throw that Luck needs to make more often. He makes his read down the field, sees no one is open and then takes what the defense gives him. He fires a good pass and Ferguson picks up 4 yards. 8th Passing Attempt — 8 Yard Completion to Chester RogersLuck had two good options on this play: Rogers and Doyle. This is a quick hitter passing play, so he takes a quick drop, makes a read and hits the receiver quickly. He makes a nice throw and gets the easy first down. When Luck makes these easy reads and throws, it’s very tough to stop this Colts offense. As a side note Indianapolis Colts T-Shirt , Rogers runs a fantastic route here and is able to separate from the cornerback. 9th Passing Attempt — Incomplete Pass to Jack Doyle (Short)This is another quick hitter type throw, where the coaches expect Luck to make a pre-snap read and stick with that read. Doyle is the guy here, and Luck throws a nice sharp pass in a tight window, but Doyle drops it. This is a smart play-call on 2nd down and it was a good decision and pass by Luck.10th Passing Attempt — Incomplete Pass to Ryan Grant (Short)Luck does a very good job on his 5-step drop and he reads the field well. Most of his options were taken, so while his pass was 5 yards short of the line of scrimmage, it was probably his best bet for a 1st down. He makes a good pass to a receiver crossing the field, but Grant drops the ball and the Colts are forced to punt. This was Luck’s receivers second dropped pass of the game.11th Passing Attempt — 1 Yard Completion to Eric EbronLuck takes a 7-step drop here, but just as he’s taking his last step he already has pressure in his face and he’s forced to throw to the drag route run by Eric Ebron. Luck makes the smart, safe throw on 2nd down but isn’t rewarded as Ebron is able to do nothing with the catch and is tackled immediately.12th Passing Attempt — Incomplete (Throw Away) Pass to Darrell Daniels (Short)The throw-away was the smart decision, but Luck needs to sense the pressure up the middle earlier and rollout to buy more time. 13th Passing Attempt — 5 Yard Completion to Eric EbronLuck again makes the smart, quick read to Ebron on a crossing route. The pass is on the money, but Ebron is able to do nothing with the pass after it’s caught. This was a well thrown pass by Luck.OverallIt’s tough to grade Luck when his top receiver, TY Hilton, didn’t even play the game and he played with a bunch of receivers who didn’t run very good routes. Luck wasn’t on the money with many of his throws and made some poor decisions, but it isn’t anything alarming, especially considering it’s only his second game back. Every rep he takes in a game situation is a positive and will only help him moving forward. I find the coaching staff has done a very good job easing him back into playing. He’s getting meaningful reps in games and participating fully in practices. With two more preseason games, including the 3rd game where he should see the entire first half, Luck will have one more good outing before suiting up for real. The 4th preseason game is almost always saved for backups and reserves fighting for roster spots, but I’ll be curious to see if the Colts give him a drive in the game.
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