Tag: Frank Reich

Colts’ Frank Reich ecstatic Jack Doyle got an extension

Frank Reich has immense praise for Jack Doyle.

The Indianapolis Colts took care of some business before the offseason began by locking up tight end Jack Doyle to a three-year contract extension and head coach Frank Reich couldn’t be happier about it.

A reliable and trustworthy both on the field and in the locker room, Doyle has been a quiet centerpiece of the offense. Running the offense, Reich understands just what Doyle means to the unit.

“Yeah, it didn’t take long to realize how good of a player, leader – everything. I mean Jack (Doyle) is really the consummate pro in every way,” Reich said Thursday. “He works hard. He is a great teammate, great player and (has) great production. So I was really happy that Chris (Ballard) was able to get that done.”

Even after the retirement of Andrew Luck, the Colts were hoping the tight end room would be able to sustain a level of strong production. However, Eric Ebron didn’t find the same production or the same role as he did in 2018.

That said, Doyle continued to carry the offense from the tight end position. An elite blocker and an underrated pass catcher, Doyle quickly caught the eye of Reich when the latter first took the job with the Colts.

“You think maybe he is limited in the passing role because he doesn’t have ‘elite speed.’ I found out pretty fast that this guy is – when he had an 80-catch season before we got here, there was no accident to that,” said Reich. “That wasn’t just because Andrew (Luck) liked to throw him the ball. He is a very good receiver. I mean he is such an instinctive route runner. He understands everything about the game.”

The Colts have plenty of moves to make this offseason, but they already accomplished one in locking up Doyle for the next three seasons.

Is Carson Wentz in need of some tough love, more intense coaching?

NFL executives think Carson Wentz would benefit from tougher coaching

Carson Wentz is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL, yet he’s regressed some since the 2017 season that saw the Eagles star almost win MVP.

Since that time, Wentz has lost his former position coach John DeFilippo, who took the offensive coordinator’s job in Minnesota and offensive coordinator, Frank Reich, who became the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach.

Both men had a connection with Wentz, that Press Taylor, current quarterbacks coach, and Mike Groh appear to lack.

Wentz’s regression has caught the eye of personnel men around the league, and according to those executives via Paul Domowitch of The Inquirer, the Eagles star could benefit from some tough love and he needs to be “coached harder.”

“Carson played his best ball when DeFilippo was coaching him,’’ a personnel executive for an AFC team said. “Because John would get in his (butt). John and Reich had a good cop-bad cop thing going on.

“Reich would be the good cop and pat Carson on the butt, but Flip would stay on Carson and kept him on point and had him playing his best football. Personally, I think that’s what he needs right now, what he’s been lacking since (DeFilippo) left. Hard coaching. Right now, he’s got everybody there kissing his butt and that’s not helping him become a better player.’’

None of what was said is wrong, and only those inside the NovaCare Complex truly know just how hard Press Taylor and Mike Groh push Wentz to get better. The numbers this season tell a tale of a quarterback who seems to press in the biggest moments and who hasn’t taken the next step in his path to greatness.

Wentz has completed 62.4% of his passes this season, for 2,840 yards, 20 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. Those stats are solid, but in terms of league-wide averages, Wentz is currently middle of the pack among NFL passers in passing (90.0), touchdown percentage, completion percentage (62.4) and 30th in yards per attempt (6.5).

Another personnel guy said this about Wentz.

“They have to scheme to get guys open,’’ said a coach for an NFC team that has played the Eagles this season. “Zach Ertz is the only guy other than Agholor who can get open on his own.

“The rest of them are like basketball players who can’t get their own shot. They’re a bunch of possession guys. They don’t have a guy who can create in a one-on-one situation, and that’s a big problem for them.’’

Wentz has been steady for the Eagles and with the plethora of injuries to his skill players on a weekly basis, it’s important to focus on the fact that he’s four-games away from completing his first full season of football since tearing his ACL.

That in itself is an accomplishment that should carry Wentz and give him confidence going forward as the Eagles franchise quarterback.

He can certainly use some tough love, but Carson Wentz is also definitely on his way to becoming one of the NFL’s best signal-callers.

Colts’ Frank Reich: Offensive failures don’t fall on one player

Offensive woes continue for the Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-6) are doing their best to shake off a monumental loss Sunday against the Tennessee Titans (7-5) at Lucas Oil Stadium, which includes evaluating the failures of the offense.

Averaging just 19.8 points per game over the last four contests, the Colts offense has hit a rut—one that will likely keep them out of the playoffs. While many fingers have been pointed at quarterback Jacoby Brissett, head coach Frank Reich doesn’t believe the unit’s failure solely falls on the former’s shoulders.

Reich is correct in that assessment. The offensive failures aren’t on one player. They never are. Brissett had a fine game before imploding for two second-half interceptions that buried the Colts, but the loss (and fourth-quarter collapse) aren’t all on him.

While the questioning of Brissett as the team’s future under center is warranted, the Colts also saw some pitiful play from the kicking team. Adam Vinatieri missed a kick wide right, and the special teams unit allowed two other attempts to be blocked. One of which was taken back for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Colts have also been dealing with a litany of injuries at the skill positions. Indy is currently without its starting running back, starting three wide receivers and their move tight end. Brissett’s faults should be acknowledged, but those factors must be accounted for as well.

Even so, the Colts find themselves in limbo. They aren’t technically out of the playoff race, but they are about as close as it gets with four games remaining. They currently sit as the ninth seed in the AFC playoff race without any tiebreakers to give them an edge.

Much of the blame for the failures this season go to the offensive side of the ball. Brissett deserves his share, but there have been problems throughout the entire unit.

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Colts missed out on chunk plays in loss to Texans

Frank Reich says Colts needed more chunk plays.

While the Indianapolis Colts achieved a handful of objectives during the 20-17 loss against the Houston Texans on Thursday night, there was one aspect of the game they failed miserably in.

With the run game giving a physical outing to the tune of 175 yards as a team, the Colts needed to find some chunk plays mixed in. However, those plays never came, and it limited what the offense could do down the field.

Head coach Frank Reich said there were some factors that led to the lack of chunk plays but it ultimately comes down to the collective effort of the coaching staff and the players failing to get it done.

“They were playing soft zone coverage a lot of the time forcing the underneath throw and that’s OK. Jacoby (Brissett) did a good job of hitting some check downs in that game that gained good yards and moved the sticks,” Reich said Friday in a conference call. “Then we’re running the ball well on top of it and that’s good, that’s all good but we still have to find ways to make big plays and if you are going to run the ball for 175 yards, that has to be accompanied by four or five chunk plays in the passing game that are set up because of how well you are running the ball. Collectively as coaches and players – as an offense – we just didn’t get that done last night.”

The Texans played a lot more zone coverage on Thursday night than they typically do against the Colts. Part of the reason Indy has had so much success against the Texans in recent seasons has been due to their ability to beat man coverage with scheme.

However, the Texans showed many soft zone looks, which makes it difficult to get the deep ball going.

The biggest problem the Colts had Thursday night was their inability to find some type of big play. Their longest passing play was 14 yards. In today’s NFL, that simply can’t happen.

There are many reasons the Colts didn’t see many plays downfield. Part of it was the scheme shown by the Texans. Some of it is Jacoby Brissett’s decision against forcing a ball into a tight window. Part of it is the wide receiver’s lack of separation on routes.

All of those factors led to the Colts having just 129 passing yards against a defense that was allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game entering the Thursday night matchup.

The Colts offense hasn’t been one predicated on chunk plays. It’s a problem that has been masked somewhat by the rushing success and red-zone success.

But it was on full-display in primetime, and it led to an ugly loss on the road against a divisional opponent.

5 takeaways from Colts’ 20-17 loss vs. Texans

Takeaways from the Colts’ 20-17 loss.

Few things say it’s a big game more than when it’s in prime time, your opponent is your most hated rival, and there is not only a chance to secure an outright lead in your division but any other advantages in the playoff implications that come up at season’s end.

The Indianapolis Colts had all of that at stake and then some before falling short against the Houston Texans, 20-17. Thursday night’s affair once again came down to the last minute, and this time the Texans (7-4) outlasted the Colts (6-5) and ended their three-game losing streak against Indy.

Here are five takeaways:

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Watson finally gains an edge on the Colts defense

Entering Thursday night, quarterback Deshaun Watson was struggling against the Colts. Across the board, the Clemson product was seeing negatives that included a decline in his overall numbers, being pressured at a higher rate and losing three consecutive games against them.

Although the Colts had their moments against Watson on Thursday night, it wasn’t the same as before. The MVP candidate produced greater success in Week 12 as his athleticism and timely throws resulted in 298 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and just one sack surrendered.

Minus the successful blitzes by the Colts defense, they couldn’t get close enough to actually pressure Watson while also limiting his effectiveness as a runner.

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Texans 100: Facts and Figures for Colts on Thursday night, No. 51-75

The facts continue as the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts face off in Week 12. Next we take a look at Frank Reich and referee Ron Torbert.

The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts kickoff Week 12 in the NFL with a Thursday night encounter that completes their season series at NRG Stadium. Next, we take a look at Colts coach Frank Reich along with an examination of referee Ron Torbert.

Facts and Figures for Colts, No. 1-25

Facts and Figures for Colts, No. 26-50

frank reich facts

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Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

51. Reich is 1/8 coaches in Colts history to post a 6-4 record.

52. Reich is 8-2 in the AFC South, including playoffs with a 4-1 record on the road.

53. Reich is 3-1 against the Texans, including playoffs. Here is how that compares to the rest of the AFC South:

Titans: 3-0

Texans: 3-1

Jaguars: 2-1

 

54. Reich is 4-2 in November with an 0-1 record on the road.

55. Reich is 0-1 in Thursday night games with an 0-1 record on the road.

56. Reich is 1/2 in completing a series sweep with a 1/2 rate on the road.

57. Reich is 2/6 on challenges in 2019 with a 4/11 record for his career.

58. Reich is 1/4 challenging plays related to pass interference.

59. The Colts have had the second-fewest penalties in the NFL with 56.

60. The Colts have the eighth-highest red zone conversion rate at 63.2%.

61. The Colts have the seventh-highest fourth down conversion rate in the NFL at 66.7%. They are also tied for the fifth-highest in the NFL at going for it with 15 attempts.

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Will the Jags-Colts Week 11 game be on TV in your area?

The Jags and Colts game is a must-win for both teams, however, the coverage on the game won’t be huge around the nation.

It’s crunch time for the 4-5 Jacksonville Jaguars who are currently on the outside looking in on the AFC playoff race. This week, they will be taking on  their longtime rivals in the Indianapolis Colts (5-4), who are equally desperate due to being on a two-game skid which has decreased their playoff chances.

The No. 2 spot in the AFC South will also be on the line for the winner of Sunday’s game, though the wild-card spot is what both teams should be likely eying. In the process, both starting quarterbacks Nick Foles and Jacoby Brissett (likely) will be returning to the field, which has made the meeting between the two rivals a tough one to call.

All of that said, both Jags and Colts fans will be viewing this one as a must-win and the fans in the yellow region of the TV coverage map below will be able to tune in locally via CBS.

(Courtesy of 506 Sports)

Announcing the game will be Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), James Lofton (color analyst) and Michael Grady (sideline).

Sunday’s game will mark the first meeting between the Jags and Colts of the year. The Colts lead the all-time series between the two rivals with a 23-13 record, however, the Jags won the last meeting by a score of 6-0.

The game will also have an interesting storyline behind it due to Foles and Jags offensive coordinator John DeFilippo playing in their first game against their former offensive coordinator in Colts head coach Frank Reich. As many can recall, the trio all were a part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2017 team that won Super Bowl LII with Foles leading the way as the game’s MVP.

Nick Foles on Colts HC Frank Reich: “He’s a guy that has impacted my life so much”

Nick Foles says he’s forever grateful for Colts HC Frank Reich, who changed his career in a big way while with the Eagles.

Not only will Sunday’s game mark the first for quarterback Nick Foles since his Week 1 collarbone injury but it will also mark the first time that he and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo will be up against one of their former bosses in Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich. With the three winning a Super Bowl together in 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles, there is a great deal of respect between the three and Foles expressed that this week by praising Reich, who was his former offensive coordinator and obviously played a key part in his career.

“He’s a guy that I admire more than anything,” Foles said Wednesday. “He’s a guy that has impacted my life so much, and he’s going to be on the opposing sideline, so that’s going to be fun. […] I think it will be emotional seeing him because of what he means to me. He’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever met, so when he went there I was so excited for him. But I’m going to go out there and play.”

When Eagles starting quarterback Carson Wentz went down in December of 2017 with a torn ACL in his left knee, nobody expected Foles to have the run that he did and lead the team to the playoffs. However, Reich (and DeFilippo) worked with the veteran to revitalize his career. Needless to say, Foles had the best year of his career, going 77-of-106 (72.6%) for 971 yards and six touchdowns in the postseason. He also ended up becoming the Super Bowl’s MVP as a result.

The Jags could have the edge going into Sunday’s game being that there is a lack of film on Foles. Then again, nobody knows Foles and DeFilippo as well as Reich does, so things could be rather interesting.

5 takeaways from Colts’ 16-12 loss vs. Dolphins

Takeaways from the Colts’ loss to the Dolphins.

There are some games that are too hard to comprehend and explain later on, and Sunday’s game between the Indianapolis Colts (5-4) and Miami Dolphins (2-7) is now one of them.

Well, let’s start off with the easiest point. The Colts lost. And what would follow that beginning? An extensive list of self-inflicted mistakes, turnovers, and uninspired play by a team who supposedly has postseason aspirations. Even though the Dolphins deserve credit for their 16-12 win, the focus will be all on the Colts. Nothing more, nothing less.

Here are five takeaways from the Colts’ upset loss vs. the Dolphins:

AP Photo/AJ Mast

Hoyer was just… man, forget it

Last weekend, I made sure to give quarterback Brian Hoyer “his flowers” following his stand-in performance against the Steelers in Week 9. The 11-year veteran, despite throwing a pick-six earlier on, threw three passing touchdowns and kept the Colts in the game until the very end.

But as we fast-forwarded to Sunday’s game, none of Hoyer’s positive attributes were there to be seen. Despite facing a bottom-ranked Dolphins’ defense, Hoyer was held to 204 passing yards, hit on several occasions, and threw three interceptions. And to make the Colts’ latest QB1’s performance worse, some of his struggles can’t be reflected in his statistics.

For a veteran of his stature, Hoyer missed various, open receivers on passing plays and failed to make common adjustments with his pass protection.

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