Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner didn’t sugarcoat his Week 4 showing against the Commanders. He said his own effort slipped at times, especially when it came to helping in the run game, and he made it clear he wasn’t letting that slide.
“There was multiple plays where my effort was not there,” Gardner said, via the team’s YouTube. “That’s not what I stand for.
That’s not the type of person I am. That’s not the type of player I am.
That’ll never happen again.”
In Houston, the 0-4 Texans are making a notable adjustment on defense. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said he will take over defensive play calling from DC Sean Burke, with Ryans putting the responsibility on himself and stressing that the move is about improving communication rather than pointing fingers.
“It all starts with me. If there’s a lack in communication, I look at myself first,” Ryans said, via Pro Football Talk.
“It starts with me and making sure I’m a better communicator. So just to help spark things more, I’m going to take over the play-calling for the defense and I’m going to make sure that communication is right.
If our guys are saying communication is not right, then, ultimately, it falls on me. So, it’s on me to get it fixed.”
He also made a point of backing Burke while explaining the decision.
“No slight against coach Burke, he’s done an outstanding job. Just want to make sure I can streamline communication in the best way possible so that isn’t the theme when I stand up here the next time I see you guys and talking about communication.”
Ryans said the Texans aren’t planning a full reset on that side of the ball. Instead, he wants a smaller shift that can help shake loose a defense that hasn’t finished the job through four games.
“We’ll see. I’m just looking for something to change.
Right now, we haven’t done great the first four games, defensively, when it’s been on guys to close the game out. And it’s, man, can we spark a little change?
Matt has done a good job. We’re not overhauling the defense, just trying to spark some change.”
In Tennessee, the Titans turned to Atonio Mafi to handle right guard duties with starter Fernando Carmona and backup Jackson Slater both injured. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said he liked what he saw from Mafi in his first opportunity, especially how quickly he settled in and handled the communication side of things.
“I was impressed,” Daboll said, via the team’s website. “Him not being here very long, he has done a good job picking up the information and going out there and communicating with everybody.
We’ll keep on growing with him. But for his first outing, I was pleased with a lot of the things that he did.”
In Other News...
Colts Fans Can Finally Cross One Trade Rumor Off The List
Marvin Harrison Jr. trade chatter had been floating around the Colts orbit for a while, but the latest update is enough to take Indianapolis out of the center of the conversation. Adam Schefter reported that the Cardinals are finalizing a deal for the wide receiver, with the move expected after this weeks games, and the buzz has only grown louder as teams around the league wait to see where he lands.
For Colts fans, the important part is the name that no longer needs to be attached to the rumor. ESPNs Stephen Holder said Indianapolis is not the team getting Harrison, even after the speculation and interest that had made the idea feel plausible. With Houston also being mentioned as a possible destination, the story now turns from whether the Colts might be involved to where Harrison ends up once Arizona actually completes the trade. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Get A Huge Chance To Change The Pittsburgh Narrative
Both the Colts and Steelers come into this matchup at 2-2, which gives Sundays meeting more weight than a typical early-season game. It is the kind of October test that can start shaping the playoff conversation, especially for Indianapolis, which has spent too much of recent history watching Pittsburgh control the tone of the matchup. The Steelers won the previous meeting, and the backdrop includes the same kind of physical, defense-heavy football that has defined so many games between these teams.
Indianapolis has reasons to believe this is a better chance than most to flip the script. The Colts have been efficient when drives get near the goal line and have held up well on key defensive downs, while their overall defensive rankings suggest they can make this a tougher game than Pittsburgh might expect. The Steelers still lean on their rushing game and have shown enough defensive bite to keep opponents uncomfortable, so this does not look like a clean path for the Colts. Even so, with the standings tight and the history in the building working against them, this feels like the sort of game Indianapolis needs to seize if it wants the conversation around this rivalry to change. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Taylor Could Be At Center Of A Huge Colts Test
Rain is in the forecast for the Colts trip to Pittsburgh, and that alone changes the feel of a game that already figures to lean physical at Acrisure Stadium. Shane Steichen has been adjusting practice for wet conditions, and with center Tanor Bortolini expected to play through a recent ankle issue, Indianapolis is trying to make sure its offensive front is ready for a sloppy afternoon.
Jonathan Taylor sits at the center of that equation. The weather could push the Colts toward a heavier dose of the run game, which puts even more pressure on Taylor to carry the offense and steady things if the passing game gets harder to trust. He has already found the end zone plenty this season, but the bigger question now is whether this is the kind of game where Indianapolis can finally keep feeding him enough to tilt the matchup. [Read more 🡒]