Colts begin practice for crucial matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars

Colts begin practice for crucial matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars

I don’t have We’re good to go. All right. Um looking forward to the opportunity uh to go down to Jacksonville this week. Uh they’re playing good football, so it’ll be a hell of a challenge for us. Uh one we’re definitely looking forward to getting back on the practice field and getting ready for our opponent. Was it was it familiarity? How much of the familiarity that Blake has? Yeah, I thought Blake had a really good workout. Uh so we’re excited to add Blake to the fold. Um you know, he’s done some good things in New Orleans. Um, and so we’re excited to have him. Yeah. What What do you notice about Jacksonville? You know, they haven’t been a big topic of discussion nationally this year. What you see? Well, I think when you watch them, they fly around. I think they’re doing a good job in all three phases. Offensively, I think interesting. Um, you know, offensively, Trevor Lawrence is doing some good things. Um, ETN’s a hell of a runner. Um, they’re doing some good things there. And then defensively, you know, Hines Allen, I think, you know, he just broke the record for most sacks in franchise history there. So, um, a lot of good things, a lot of respect for them in all three phases. Their return game’s good. So, um, got to be on our details. Um, everything, the urgency, the energyy’s got to be great this week going down there. Same practice plan for Daniel this week. Yeah, he’ll be good to go though. Yep. Limited. Yeah, we’ll see. Yeah, he’ll be good. We’re going to conduct a walkthrough today, so I’ll refer to the injury report on that, but yeah, he should be good to go. Shane, so much of like with the kicker, it’s I think you mentioned it and even amazed it is trust. You’ve got to trust on how your game played and all that. How does a kicker that you’ve not had gain you trust? Well, I think you got to do it in practice. Obviously, you watch the tape and what he did in New Orleans. Um, got a big leg. He does some good things. So, we’re excited to see him here in practice. Uh, and then be ready to roll from there. when you guys made that decision yesterday. Um I know the pat of the last couple games have large with uh Michael. Um Blake’s been perfect on pat this year. Kind of struggled on field goals. How did you guys ultimately weigh the decision to bring someone in when there’s obviously probably not a perfect decision. Yeah, I know it’s always tough when you make those decisions. Like I said before, I love Badgely. I love Badgely the person. Um and sometimes you got to make tough decisions like that. And uh we’re excited for Blake, you know, and his opportunity. You guys, you guys always talk about like it’s it’s every week you don’t feel momentum, that kind of thing. When you lose three or four, is it difficult to keep the team from feeling that kind of I I don’t because I think we got the right guys in the locker room. You know what I mean? There’s going to be es and flows in every NFL season and you got to stay steady through the es and flows and especially when you get in December. Um, obviously there’s a lot on the line going into December and uh we got to play at our best. Our urgency levels got to be there. guys are great. Um, team meeting was good this morning. Uh, we’re looking forward to that opportunity of going out and improving every week and, uh, every opportunity we get, you know, we got to try and take advantage of. Is is it one of those things where if you get stuck in, we’ve lost three or four, that kind of thing. That’s how you deepen this deepen it. Yeah. I mean, anytime you lose games, you don’t want to lose games. You’re going to have these games that come down to the fourth quarter. A lot of these games um, are going to come down to the fourth quarter, and you got to find ways to win them at the end. You know, it comes down to about three or four plays, these tight games. Um, we’ve had five tight games this year. We’ve won three of them, lost, you know, two of them. And so at the end of games, we got to find ways to win those tight games, you know, moving forward. What’s that? I do not. All I know is that we play Jacksonville in Jacksonville this week and we’re excited for that opportunity. Um, I know you told us on Monday that you expect S to miss some time. Is there any more player? Is he definitely out on Sunday or you guys? Yeah, he’s rehabbing. He’s feeling good right now, but yeah, he’ll probably miss some time. Yeah. Shane, any chance this year? Um, I don’t know. We’re hopeful for that. You know what I mean? He’s just resting his eye right now. And, you know, when that time comes, I’ll let you guys know for sure. You know, it looks like the forecast is rain in Jacksonville. It’s only Wednesday, so who knows, but how do you prepare for that? You know, you do wet ball drills in practice and stuff with the quarterbacks and the receivers. Um, and you know, going down to Jacksonville, playing there a whole bunch of times, uh, coaching there obviously through my career, I feel like it’s never a steady rain down there. It might be pregame rain, it might be a quarter of rain, and then it stops. Um, so we just got to be ready to adjust, you know, throughout the game on how that goes. There have I’ve gotten a lot of questions by Anthony. I guess probably because Daniel’s hurt, but um, but can you just get any any clarity to like what the issue is there? Like I guess that thing is a very It takes a while to heal. Is that basically what it is? Yeah, it’s an it’s an eye issue and so we’re just waiting for that to get clearance. You know what I mean? Obviously, anytime you’re dealing with an eye, you want to make sure he’s got full vision in that eye. Um, and you know, he’s resting it right now. And once he’s cleared to go, I’ll let you guys know. So, he’s not even ready to practice yet. I mean, not practice, but correct. Do much off field. Yeah. Yeah. He’s just doing some stuff in the weight room right now. Getting back into it, but that’s where it’s at. On the new try out yesterday, um the guy that you guys choose to bring in, is that Chris? Is that you? How does that Yeah, Chris and his staff handle that stuff. Yeah. Um I know there’s some folks that had questions about bringing Justin Tucker in his background. Um why did you guys ultimately want to bring him to the facility? We wanted to bring him in, talk to him, see him work out, see him kick and stuff, but you know, at the end of the day, we went with group and we’re excited for group. Shane, did you get any clarity from the league on some? Yeah, I mean, I’m not going to get into that. We’re moving on to Jacksonville and, you know, things happen in games sometimes that you can’t control and you got to move on and that’s the way football is. Does Carwise have a chance this week or not? Yeah, we’ll see how the week progresses, but he’s doing well. What stands out to you about Kore? Yeah, I think he does everything the right way. Um he kind of embodies the character of what we look for in a cult. Um what he does in the community with his charity um is very impressive. So I can’t say enough good things about Kenny, the person he is in the building, out outside the building, helping out uh young kids and the community and all the stuff he does with his charity. Like I said, it’s it’s pretty impressive. You guys haven’t really been a big push push team. What are the reasons behind why? Yeah, I think uh I think it’s something you got to work at a lot. You know, I mean, some teams do it around the league. Obviously, Philly does it at a high level. Um, you know, I think it’s uh certain looks that you can get, whatever it is, whether how the teams are playing it. Um, but teams have success sometimes not doing the push as well, too. And just sometimes if you’re not all up in there, they’re not all up in there and you have success doing it. Um, I don’t know. I think there’s a there’s a lot that goes into it. Um, and I think it’s the repetition, too. It is hard to rep the QB sneak in practice. a lot of teams, you know, it’s a lot of walkthrough stuff that you got to do because it is a lot of bodies banging in there. Um, so yeah, to answer that question, I think it’s a team by team basis on how they feel about it. Yeah, we just didn’t get the snap there on that one. Yeah, earlier in the year, what has changed? Um, I think it’s an NFL season. I mean, you’re going to have highs and lows, and I think he’s still been playing great football for us. Obviously, through the first eight weeks, he was at an MVP level, and I still think he’s playing at a really high level. I think he’s top 10 in almost every category still around the National Football League for the quarterback position. Um, and I think he’s still playing really good ball for us. A guy it seems like last few games. The way you credit him taking that to the next level, I think it’s work ethic. I think he the way he goes about his business every day, the detail that he puts into the route, the questions that he ask. Um I think Reggie does a great job with him getting him prepared each and every week. Um and he’s making a ton of plays, the contested catches, he’s been doing that his whole career, but the intermediate stuff, the different things we’re able to do with him now. Um he’s taking great strides, you know, in all those areas. Is there any kind of is there any kind of like motivating factor for other guys when they see Daniel go out there, you know, less than 100% put it on the line? I mean, just how do you think that impacts? Oh, yeah. I think it’s a huge impact. I mean, when a guy’s out there um dealing with an injury, um it just shows the toughness and what he’s willing to put on the line for the guys, and I think that shows the guys how much he cares that he wants to be out there with them and playing um still playing great ball. Um and so it’s it’s pretty impressive uh to watch. I think Fox had it where instead of like his college roommates created some things, 3D printed cast, whatever to help him with his legs. So that in mind, what are your calling rules up to? Would you trust them with something like that? Abs. Well, I went I went to UNLV. I’m not a Duke graduate. So probably nothing against I love my alma moater, but Duke the high there’s a high level IQ there. And so I did I did hear about all that and how they made the 3D printing stuff for guys and players. I guess there was a couple players there that were walk-ons that were like, “Hey, what if we do this and create this system?” And they’ve been doing good. I think they’re doing stuff for the NBA and they’re doing a whole bunch of different things, you know, with the mask and all that stuff. So, it’s pretty impressive. Couple more. There goes you being commens [Laughter] or point to any numbers of like divisional clubs in the game like Sunday. I mean to your team, do you point to anything like guys the magnitude of this game is here or is it just to me it’s each and every week I just talk about getting better and executing at a high level uh instead of talking about numbers. You know, we got a tough task ahead of us. Um, you know, we’re going to get their best shot. We’re going to give them our best shot. Uh, it’s going to be a hell of a football game and we got to go execute, find more production on those early downs and be more effective in terms of staying on schedule offensively. Yeah, I think we just got to got to execute uh execute our stuff. I think um yeah, teams will will adjust and bring different looks, but um just being prepared for them. Uh know where the ball needs to go and and um and executing. What what did you see with Jacksonville on film and just the magnitude of this game too between not having one there since 2014 and the the division implications as well? Yeah, it’s a big big game for us uh for sure. I think we all know that and and divisional games late in the season are are always big. So, um you know, they’re good team, good defense, and um do a good job rushing the passer. They they create turnovers and make a lot of plays in the back end. So, um you know, we’ll have to be ready to go. It’s a It’s a good team, but I think with all these games and and you know, it’s always our mindset to focus on on us and and being prepared ourselves. How are you progressing just healthwise? Yeah, I feel good. Feel good. I think feeling better every week and and continue to listen to the doctors and trainers and and do what they tell me to do. We saw that uh your college roommates made whatever you have to wear on your leg. Can you speak a little bit about that relationship you have with them and the trust you put in your college roommates? Cuz I have college roommate. He ain’t doing that for me. Yeah, lucky uh I’m lucky to have smart friends and and two classmates of mine, teammates at Duke who who were really close friends and um yeah, the uh they were starting up that business or kind of really had an idea about it. Uh my last year at Duke, I broke my collar bone at that time, so it was uh kind of worked out timing wise. And since then, they’ve built a a pretty good business um 3D printing those pads and devices. Um, so yeah, kind of funny, you know, using one of them again, but uh they’re they’re smart guys and um lucky to have smart friends. What is that? What is the process that you have to go through to get something like that made? Is there you know what what do you use to scan it? Um what’s the turnaround time you were able to get that um delivered back to you? Yeah, it’s pretty quick. They uh have a an app and you can scan it on a on a phone or iPad and um print the pad out. Uh my buddy Kevin actually delivered it to Kansas City. He he flew and came to the game and got to see him afterwards. So um they can turn around pretty quick. Do you notice a difference? Can can do you sense something different with with this extra pen? Uh it’s pretty low low profile and and fits to my leg pretty well. So um yeah, I don’t I don’t really notice it when I’m playing. One sack take on Sunday. Is there any like benefit to just like getting that hit out of the way? You know, you didn’t take any sacks in Kansas City. Was there any benefit of just getting that out of the way, having the reassurance that you can take a hit and that injury that I know you guys didn’t expect to get any worse is going to feel just fine? Uh, I don’t know. There’s a benefit to it. Try try to avoid sacks, try to avoid getting hit when you can. And um doctors and trainers, everyone is um you know, I’ve been cleared to play and and I know it’s safe. So um yeah, I don’t think there’s a you certainly try to avoid sacks and hits. Daniel, it’s kind of crazy. When you got a pad like that, do you need NFL approval or is it just something you can use? Uh, yeah, I think just some something I can use. You know, the trainers and doctors approved it and and uh thought it was a good uh Yeah, thought it was exactly what I needed. So, um, yeah, all good. Was your collar bone injury that they 3D printed something for? Was that really the genesis of how all of this came together back in 2018? Yeah, I mean I think they had the idea before that. I I think I was the first pad that they printed um that was played with. So So yeah, I guess it kind of was. You know, from a limitation standpoint, just scrambling outside the pocket, is that the one area feel like maybe not what it used to be? Uh yeah, I mean I think um you know, I feel good. I think I’m feeling better every week and continue to do more and more. Um, I think, yeah, just being mindful of of the injury and and uh doing whatever I can to uh put the team in a position to win. And what’s the key to getting getting this offense back to where you were the first what, seven, eight weeks of the season where everything seemed to be clicking? Yeah, I think we just got to execute more consistently. I think uh when you look at the game on Sunday, um you know, we we didn’t start well enough. We we stalled those first three drives and and didn’t uh didn’t get anything going. But I thought after that there was some rhythm and we moved the ball well, executed well. I think it’s just about doing that consistently throughout the game and um you know from from start to finish playing playing good football and first, second, third down, every down’s important to to staying on track and uh making sure we’re efficient. Daniel, I know you wore the uh mission 34 cleats last week in remembrance of I believe a former high school teammate Sean. Can you maybe for those who don’t know, can you explain what Mission 34 is? Yeah, Mission 34. Um, yeah, I had a a buddy in high school, uh, who I played basketball with who who, uh, committed suicide in college, and his parents started Mission 34, uh, as a a foundation, a charity to spread awareness and and, uh, you know, educate people on uh, just the mental health struggle, the mental health crisis, and and uh, you know, ending the stigma around that. So, I think it’s a a great cause and and I’ve enjoyed helping when I uh when I’ve been able to and I think it ties in well to um you know the ERS family and kicking the stigma movement um here with the Colts. So, uh it’s been an honor to represent Mission 34. I think they’re doing a lot of good work uh back in Charlotte, you know, where where I’m from and and certainly spreading out around the country. See, each game, each loss is its own story, but one of the commonalities in these most recent two games is the opponent dominating time of possession. How can you guys be more effective as a defense in getting these offenses off the field? Um, yeah, I think it just comes with better being on being better on third down. Um, time of possession is extremely important. Um, that’s something that I really learned the hard way last year. um just the more shots at it you can give our offense um the fresher that we could be um the better we’ll play at the end of the game. Um you know a lot of times I don’t think it’s even a fact that we’re playing bad defense is that we playing a lot of defense um and I think that’s you know a lot of that is on us um being more efficient on third down but that also comes with you know winning the early downs to put yourself in a position um to be better. So it’s something that we talk through something we’re working on and we’ll be better at. No matter the time of year, no matter the situation, division games always carry a heavy magnitude. But when you especially look at this game on Sunday, the implications that there are, the opportunity to reclaim the division, how much of a sense is there is we didn’t get to this point to not finish what we started and put ourselves in a position to put to get to the postseason. Yeah. I mean, this Sunday is literally, you know, all you’ve been looking forward to all season. Um, obviously last couple weeks didn’t go we the way we wanted it, but there’s no better opportunity to get back on track than at Jacksonville. Um, you know, it’s a game I look forward to. Um, and um, you know, I think we’ll definitely get back on track after Sunday. You’ve faced Trevor Lawrence a number of times already, of course. How critical is it to keep them contained when you can? Yeah, you know, he’s definitely mobile. Um, you know, he’s a capable runner, you know, um, since college, you know, that’s pretty much been his game. Um, you know, they got some capable backs, too. But, you know, I think, you know, we can keep him contained and, uh, keep the explosive downs and play good on defense. How much have you guys talked about the streak and how much motivation is that for you guys this summer? I think you guys talk about the streak more than um, enough for all of us. Um, um, yeah, I don’t really know how relevant it is to be honest with you. Um, just because it’s a new year, it’s a new scene, that’s a new head coach. Um, you know, we got it’s a whole bunch of new people in here. Um, every year is a new opportunity. Um, we even got new ownership. So, it’s a whole lot of new and it’s a year of a whole lot of first. A whole lot of first going around this year. JT done did a whole lot of first. We didn’t did a whole lot of first. So, um, first in a while at least. So, um, that is just it’s just an irrelevant thing. But I understand it’s something to speak on. uh was thankful that we was able to uh you know give our fans uh something less to talk about after that week one thing. So um I guess we got another one to uh run through uh this week. So these last 24 hours have been like for you. Yeah, it’s uh been a little bit of a crazy day. Um you know, I got to I guess take a week off during the season, so I didn’t plan on that, but um yeah, quick turnaround with flights, workouts, you know, on my third hotel in three nights here. So, it’s, you know, we’re just making it work, making the best of it. And, uh, obviously super thankful for the opportunity here. Did you go home last night and then you didn’t come back? That’s what I was saying. They’re on a different hotel room. We’re uh they’re all everything’s a little short notice and just kind of going going with the flow and and uh like I said, just kind of making the best out of it. So, got some more clothes getting shipped down here tonight. So, uh we’re going to we’re going to roll with it. So, you came for the try out and went and then went home because you didn’t know and then you came. I know. I’ve been here since Monday night. Okay. So, you came in in the snow? Yep. Yeah. So, first time seeing not not first time seeing snow, but first time seeing it in a while. Um, so from Missouri and got some bunch of Indiana families, so been up around here a bunch. Uh, so but not a whole lot of snow in New Orleans uh anytime, but especially right now. What was the excitement level of just coming to joining this team that’s right in the middle of this playoff hunt? Yeah, it’s first of all, it’s been awesome to watch this team and everything that, you know, this team’s been working towards, you know, with with everything that’s gone on this year with them and been able to watch that from afar. Um, and so it’s been it’s been awesome to see them this team grow and have success, you know, and that maybe not people expected people didn’t expect. So, um, but to now be a part of it and, uh, you know, feel like I’m playing meaningful football and, uh, that, you know, we’re all working towards something here together. Have you have you talked to Spencer at all? Of course. Yeah, Spencer uh came up came with me um you know the year after Notre Dame. I left Notre Dame uh kind of was part of his little recruiting process there. So know Spencer for a little bit and uh great guy. Got nothing nothing but good things to say about him. So how how big is it to be working with Mace again? It’s awesome. Yeah, that that really helps with all the change of everything mid-season and all the craziness. It’s it’s nice to be able to come somewhere where I have some familiarity uh where me and Mace know each other. He knows kind of how I tick. I know how he is. Um, and so that I think that will just let me allow me to be even more comfortable and and just kind of hit the ground running. How difficult is the end in New Orleans? Cuz it felt like you were kind of the guy there. Yeah. Yeah. No, I have nothing but good things to say about New Orleans, especially the city. Um, you know, unfortunately, I feel like, uh, this year kind of snowballed on me a little bit and so uh, you know, that’s that’s the nature of this business. That’s the nature of being a kicker. And, uh, you know, I know I had to be better, but to be real honest, you know, it’s not about not about that place anymore. Um, this is a whole brand new season for me. Um, you know, everything that, you know, I’m going towards is about here. Um, it’s about this team and, uh, you know, at the end of the day, it’s really not about me here. It’s about the team and and everything that they’ve been building towards all year. I’m just glad to be a part of it. With the mindset, the mindset of a kicker where teams will move on quickly if you stumble. How do you deal with it? I mean, and coming in here where I mean, you just you worry about me personally, it’s always been about my routine. Actually, Mace kind of really instilled that in me, you know, my last year at uh at Notre Dame. So, um, it’s always been about routine for me. You just worry about yourself, worry about your routine. Um, with me personally, and then when I stick to that and, uh, you know, I stay true to it and stay confident myself and kind of takes care of itself. You know, each week by week, game by game. Um, so, you know, I’m not looking in the head and nothing. I’m going to focus on what we got at, you know, this week and that’s, you know, the Jaguars and go out there and, you know, to beat them. What’s the key to slowing down Trevor Lawrence because he’s he’s very mobile. Yeah, really just um working some stuff up front, applying pressure to him just so that, you know, it’s hard for him to, you know, get those passes out. Um I think that’s I think that’s what what will end up, you know, helping us, you know, get the win, you know, come Sunday. Do you feel like you’ve gotten more attention with Buck? Uh what does that mean? Like chips, like chips, doubles, that kind of thing. I mean, I feel like, you know, it’s every each one of us has been getting it, but um definitely feel them. Um you know, each game for sure. Yeah. What do you What do you think about your season so far? Just kind of overall, I mean, shoot, I feel like, you know, we put ourselves in a good spot being 84. I mean, that’s not that’s not terrible at all at all. teams won the Super Bowl, you know, with the worst record. And, you know, but I mean, I feel like we put ourselves into a great position where, you know, looking at the Jaguars, we go and beat them and beat these next teams as following and, you know, we’re going to be in a great spot. So, you you personally obviously have a lot of big plays. You got the three interceptions, the sacks, is do you feel like it’s been as consistent as you’d like it to be? Um, for me, you know, I want to like I feel like I’m a perfectionist. So, like I want every every play to be a perfect play every, you know, some where I’m doing something every game. And, you know, sometimes that might not be the case, but you know, me personally, I want to be able to do something consistently all the time. So, yeah. to be playing in the

Indianapolis Colts begin practicing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Interviews include head coach Shane Steichen, quarterback Daniel Jones, linebacker Zaire Franklin, defensive end Laiatu Latu and kicker Blake Grupe.