Game overview:
The Colts went with their 1st-team for about a quarter and Cincy countered with their 2nd/3rd-string. It was a total mismatch, but it was only a 7-7 tie for the period that the Colts ran their 1st-team on both sides.
Really, it wasn’t that close.
The Colts went right down the field with their 1st-team on the first drive and scored a TD. Richardson was nearly perfect on the opening drive; it was a hot start...and what you want to see in this type of mismatch. On the second Colts drive, there was a miscommunication on a route and Richrdson threw a pick six backed up near his own goal line area. After that, the Colts started sprinkling in some if their 2nd-teamers with Richardson and things got sloppy and the Colts only mustered 7 points in about a quarter of play with the 1st-team, ultimately not what you’d want to see with them going four series with the 1st-team against lower opposition.
The Colts 1st-team D was doing its part in the mismatch, but the offense got sloppy once some of the main starters were replaced but Richardson and the 1st-team O-Line still working with them.
I don’t leave this game with any different opinion on the Colts, because Cincy had no real opposition against them and Indy looked fine generally. And with Cincy running their deep backups, there was not a lot to take away on them either.
But there are plenty of little player nuggets from this game tape, so let’s talk about them now...
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- Indy QB report...
Anthony Richardson (8-14 for 86 yards, 1 TD/1 INT, 1-3-0) was nearly perfect on his opening drive with one beautiful throw downfield on the money right away. He’s so gifted throwing the ball...sometimes. After that first series, he overthrew some wide-open guys on basic passes. He did that at Florida, and he does that in the NFL. You just live with it and take all the good with the occasional bad/misfires on simple passes as he makes complex ones look easy.
UDFA rookie QB Jason Bean (4/4 for 52 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 3-15-1) is really capturing my attention as a viable NFL backup QB. And man that dude can scamper with the ball...I saw it in his college work, but also saw a sloppy passer...and now he’s running around in the preseason, but has sharpened his passing skills a bit. Still a-ways to go – but I think he’s gonna make this team as a #3 highly mobile QB and converting-to-WR option as well.
-- Colts RB report...
Jonathan Taylor (4-15-0, 1-8-0/1) started, obviously, and ran the whole first series...and then he was gone. He looked ‘meh’/fine...nothing amazing.
Tyler Goodson (13-57-0, 2-10-0/3) came in after Taylor, but that was with the 1st-team a series+...and he looked good. I think Goodson is going to be the hurry-up passing game RB and possible primary #2 RB once the Colts realize Trey Sermon is a boat anchor.
Evan Hull (9-30-0, 1-0-0/1) came in a little bit after Goodson and worked a little with the 1at-team...and he looked fine, improving, and capable. Goodson feels like he’s above Hull if push comes to shove.
Zavier Scott (3-19-0, 2-10-0/2) looked promising again this week...the 2nd-year UDFA out of Maine is very raw, has some skills, but is likely to go onto the practice squad to keep honing his skills.
-- Colts WR report...
Alec Pierce (2-31-0/2) got a couple of targets right away from AR, and those two looked like they were way more connected than AR and Adonai Mitchell (2-18-1/4), for whatever that is worth...as both battle for the #3 starter’s job...and neither FF-viable.
Josh Downs is out of his walking boot, and he should be good to go for Week 1 (from his sprained ankle).
Rookie Anthony Gould (4-25-0/5) got a good amount of targets with the 2nd/3rd-team in this game...and...I don’t see ‘it’. Nothing special on him since I’ve watched him work back to his college/pre-draft tape.
Laquon Treadwell (2-33-0/2) has been terrific all preseason...he deserves to make this team. Not sure if he will, but...
-- Colts TE report...
Kylen Granson (2-17-0/3) started at TE, which means the Colts officially have the worst TE situation in the NFL. Granson ran a route one way, Richardson threw it the other way...and right into an easy pick-six. Who was at fault? I don’t know...but I don’t even know why AR tries to target Granson, what a wasted option at TE. Why isn’t GM Chris Ballard fixing this multi-year sore spot (the TE position)?
The Colts TE that keeps catching my attention is 2023 UDFA TE Jordan Murray (1-22-0/1) out of Hawaii. He looks very fluid, sturdy, and has made some really nice catches. All that said, not sure he’ll make the roster right away, but should make the practice squad to continue developing.
-- Bengals WR report...
Rookie WR Jermaine Burton (4-56-1/5) is on a wild ride this preseason. A higher draft pick for Cincy with big expectations. Doesn’t start Week 1 of the preseason, but oddly came into the game in late/2nd-half...and had a big production. Week 2 of the preseason...there he is coming in later and playing later...odd for such a high pick rookie to be down so low with such glowing mainstream scouting. Ditto this 3rd-game...a game where Al Michaels alluded to him falling asleep in meetings during the broadcast...like it was a known thing...or it was an odd joke.
Burton’s whole preseason is weird – a supposed sure #3 starter (according to the media) after he was drafted...then getting a cold shoulder, almost disciplinary treatment in preseason games...but Burton producing nicely during all of it.
I don’t know what Burton’s deal is, but I can say – he does look very quick and has uncoachable receiver instincts to get downfield, find spaces in zones, and adjusting to bad passes to make catches. He’s got talent...but other ‘worries’ too.
UDFA WR (we like) Cole Burgess (1-1-0/1) has been quiet in the preseason. Seems a bit wide-eyed when he’s in on offense, but not bad returning kicks. If Burgess gets past the first round or so of cuts and gets put on the practice squad by Cincy – that’s a good sign for future development/hope...a long shot hope.
-- Colts kicker report...
Matt Gay has been struggling a bit in the preseason...which is like many of the big-name kickers this preseason...so, I’m not swayed one way or the other by proven talents missing a preseason FG or two. But something happened in this game to take note of at kicker for Indy...
So, I’m watching the game tape...might have had the sound down so didn’t hear the announcers or names of players...fast-forwarding through kickoffs and huddles sometimes, depending on what personnel was in, etc., and I see Indy line up for a field goal in the 2nd-half, which I usually fast-forward through but I was writing something down as they were about to kick and when I went to hit the fast-forward I just happened to see the kick go up and it was good. I thought to myself: damn, that kick was blasted and accurate, a 56-yarder...I guess Matt Gay is fine. But then they panned the camera to the kicker high-fiving teammates and I thought...man, has Matt Gay slimmed down?
No, Matt Gay hasn’t hit the gym or gone on keto.
Because it wasn’t Matt Gay at all. It was 2024 UDFA rookie kicker out of Notre Dame, Spencer Shrader (2/2 FGs). Man, what a good-looking kicker...in a flash view here. So, I deviated off the tape to learn more about Shrader...
Four-year kicker for South Florida. Lightly used as a freshman...then 2020 COVID year was just a handful of games. 2021 = he broke out a bit with a nice (for college ranks) 84.6% FG accuracy. 2022 was a weaker year at 69.2% FG accuracy and just 0-for-1 from 50+. He graduate-transfers to Notre Dame for 2023 and is lightly used for FGs, has a weak accuracy rate at 70.0% but hits a career high four FGs from 50+.
His college career overview is: Big leg, but inaccurate from distance, but man did he show a huge leg in this preseason game. He hit that 56-yard FG that would’ve been good from 70.
All these teams that are struggling at kicker this preseason – we’ll see if any of them are paying attention and try to swipe Shrader from Indy before they stash him on their practice squad. I know the answer to whether they’re paying attention or not...it’s rhetorical.
See his big FG for yourself...even Kirk Herbstreit had a reaction to it: https://youtu.be/bmO8OY4tT9U?si=OZneRtyX3OWFUrzY&t=137
-- IDP Report...
Cincy UDFA LB Maema Njongmeta (11 tackles) continues to impress...and make tackles, all preseason, every game he has been impressive. A future starting ILB hope who may need 1-2 years to get there.
But I saved the best for last...
DE Laiatu Latu (1 tackles, 1 sack) is a god among pass rushers. The best pass rushing prospect that I’ve ever seen, and he did not disappoint STARTING (now) with the 1st-team. I was watching his snaps back in this game – and he was virtually unblockable (albeit against a bad OT...but that’s what you want to see). Latu had one sack in like two series of play, but was past his blocker most every snap and was either getting close to the QB and/or altering the play...or the OT could only just hold/tackle him as he flew by (uncalled by the refs every time).
If PFF didn’t grade him off the charts for this game, I don’t know what their function in football society is...I also don’t care what they graded it, because I have two eyes and past studies to know for myself. They are probably too busy building alters to Dallas Turner to notice Latu’s night here.
Any whooo...
If the Colts win the AFC South...it will be traced back in part to the drafting of Latu, as so many teams ‘passed’ on this defensive gem at the position they all crave. If only he played in the SEC or at Ohio State...then he could’ve been a top 3-5 pick.
I put a few more coins on Latu to win the DROY for 2024...at +450, now that I see Indy is smart and is starting him. I have more of a stake at +550 earlier this summer.
