As I write this the Colts have announced that Jacob Eason will be the starting quarterback this Sunday when the Horseshoe take on the Tennessee Titans. The reason is that both of Wentz’s ankles are sprained. He accomplished this on that play that took him out of the game in the fourth quarter last Sunday. The immediate problem is that Eason hasn’t ever played a full regular season game before, so he will be sort of feeling his way along. The five passes that he threw in last Sunday’s game were his first throws as a pro. As to Wentz and his injury, one of the reasons the Eagles were willing to part with him was his history of injuries as a pro. Even in the Eagle’s Super Bowl year he missed the playoffs and the Super Bowl itself with injuries. So, I am starting to wonder if he really is the long range answer to the Colts quarterback problem. I suppose the one good thing is that the team won’t have to give up its first round pick to Philadelphia because Wentz won’t achieve the statistical stipulations the Eagles put down to get the Colts’ number one pick. Having their first round pick will be important to the team because it’s probably going to be a high one.
Entering the third week of the season, the Colts find themselves at 0-2. This is the first time that Frank Reich has been in that position since he became head coach. It’s not just that they have lost the two opening games so far but they have looked awful doing it. The offensive line has been as ineffective as some critics predicted it would be. Erik Fisher, Chris Ballard’s replacement for the retired Anthony Castonzo, started his first game since injuring his foot at Kansas City last year. He was a bit “rusty.” Even Quenton Nelson struggled. Of course he was up against Aaron Donald. Nonetheless, Carson Wentz has been chased, pushed, and hit, and now injured in both games.
More surprising has been the play of the defense. Thought to be a strength coming into the regular season, the defenders have been outplayed by both the Seahawks and the Rams. On opening day Russell Wilson ripped the secondary to shreds with four touchdown passes. Last Sunday the Matthew Stafford-led Rams steamrolled the Horseshoe defense in both running and passing the ball. Quite frankly the Colts could easily see themselves at 0-4 at the end of September. They have the Titans and the Ravens coming up in the next two weeks.
So, is there any good news? Yes. Second year receiver Michael Pittman Jr. seems to be emerging as the go-to wide-out the Colts have been looking for. He caught a touchdown pass against Seattle and caught 8 passes for 123 yards against the Rams. If only the rest of the team could improve that much. So it’s the Tennessee Titans coming up Sunday, September 26. Our division rivals and an old nemesis. Look out below.
Herta Wins at Monterey
Young Colton Herta gave a clinic on how to dominate and win an IndyCar race over last weekend. He won the pole and when the green flag waved he left the rest of the field in the dust. The Monterey road course has been good to the Herta family. It was Colton’s second victory at the track. His dad Brian Herta won here twice. Dad Brian is Colton’s race strategist.
The real race was in positioning for a final run at the 2021 IndyCar championship. And that was down to three drivers: Alex Palou, Patricio O’ward, and Josef Newgarden. Palou has led in points for much of the season. O’ward took the point lead after the last race. Palou regained the lead with his second place finish. After a slow start, Newgarden has come on in the second half of the schedule and with a victory next week at Long Beach he could win his second IndyCar title — it’s been a very strange year for the teams and drivers. The usual suspects such as Scott Dixon and Will Power have really not factored as contenders. Helios Castroneves came out after a short retirement and won his fourth Indy 500. He only competed in three other events, however. Romain Grosjean, the former Formula One driver, has run away with the rookie of the year title with some eye-catching, hard-nosed driving. This, even though he did not compete on the ovals such as the Indy 500. He could be driving for Andretti Motor Sports next season.
So it’s off to Long Beach for the final race of the season, And we will find out who is number one.