Overview

On December 3, 2017 the Indianapolis Colts will travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. In this Week 13 matchup, I sought to understand our opponent and get a better idea for what we’re up against.

We last played the Jags in a Week 7 dismantling of our Colts’ collective masculinity. Below, we’re going to take a look at some of the ways they were able to do that and we’ll try, really hard, to find any positives we can glean and hope to expand on this week.

---

Special Teams

Kicker: Josh Lambo

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Lambo was signed in the week leading up to our last matchup with the Jaguars and he played well, going 2-2 with a long of 42. Since signing with the Jags Lambo has gone 10-11 with a 56 yarder coming against the Bengals in week 8.

I expect Josh Lambo to get a few chances to kick footballs in this game and thus far he’s done well. I don’t expect that to change.

---

Punter: Brad Nortman

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Nortman only punted twice in week seven and one of them went for 61 yards. He downed one inside the 20 and had a fairly relaxing afternoon.

I expect a similar day for him this Sunday.

---

Returner: Doesn’t matter

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Corey Grant is listed as the kick returner but I don’t think he’s going to get much work. Further Marquise Lee is the assumed punt returner but despite Rigoberto Sanchez’s 7 punts in our last matchup not a single one was returned.

Sanchez did a great job and he has punted the ball well all year long. Whoever returns punts for the Jags probably wont do much more than call for fair catches.

---

Final Thoughts for the Week

These Jags are improved. I started this section with that same statement in week seven and the thing is, I mean it, again. Their defense is better than it was six weeks ago. The Colts have an improved defense too. They’re playing well and while it looks like we will be without Rashaan Melvin, we might finally get a chance to see Quincy WIlson.

Our offense will face it’s toughest test on Sunday and they won’t be able to keep pace. The disparity of talent is far too great. The Jags offense may not be able to move the ball like they were able to in the first game. Our run defense has looked great at times and fallen apart in the 4th quarter. I believe we’re going to continue to have difficulty getting to Blake Bortles in the pocket and if so, someone will come open eventually.

Regardless of what takes place in the first three quarters, even if we manage to stay in this game until deep into the second half, I fully expect our first game against Leonard Fournette to end up with the levee breaking under the constant beating from the human battering ram that Fournette is.

---

Prediction

Jags 20

Colts 9

---

Draft Watch

This segment will keep an eye on our draft positioning as the year progresses. No, I’m not suggesting that we throw the season or that we should all look forward to the draft. Rather I hope that this will allow us all to be aware of next off-season and realize how much our 2018 outlook can change from week to week.

I would like to point out a really cool site that covers the NBA, NHL and NFL: Tankathon. It has a funny name but it serves a cool purpose, weeding out tie breakers to show who is slated to draft where.

2018 Colts Draft Position Post Week Three:

5th Overall

Depending on who you talk to the Colts are either 4th or 5th overall as of today. The teams in front of Indy are:

1. Cleveland. This team might lose 16 games this year. No one is taking the top spot from them.
2. San Francisco. The 49ers are starting Jimmy Garoppolo for the first time this week and play the Bears and Texans in the next two weeks. All things considered, it’s unlikely they win more than a single game moving forward but it’s one to watch.
3. New York Giants. I’m not sure what to make of this team other than with the benching of Eli Manning and the elevation of Geno Smith and reportedly week 14 starter Davis Webb, the Giants have sealed their fate and we can expect them to lose out.
4. Denver. I don’t really understand what’s happening in Denver right now. With that said they play the Dolphins, Jets, and Colts (hey that’s us!) in the next three weeks and I fully expect them to win one of them.
5. Indianapolis. Well I mean you guys know about this one.
6. Chicago. They suck, kind of. Maybe not as much as us but they have the 49ers, Bengals and Browns on their remaining schedule and it’s not impossible that they win two of those games.

All in all we’re in a good position for the draft. There aren’t many ways I foresee us falling out of the top 5 picks and if we do I would bet my house we don’t miss the top 10. All aboard the Connor Williams hype train.

Despite all of the presumably exciting things to come, try to enjoy the rest of this season, however you can. Just remember, no one can promise next year will be better.