Indianapolis Colts: 3 plays vs Titans that prove coaching might be the problem

We know you’re sick of hearing how embarrassing of a loss the Indianapolis Colts suffered on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, but it’ll be one that’s hard to forget.

After jumping out to a 14-0 lead with a chance to make it a three-score game, the offense failed to cash in despite starting a drive in Titans territory and were then out-scored the rest of the way by a 34-17 margin.

Do the players deserve blame? Absolutely. Each and every week it feels like there’s a new culprit for the team’s inexcusable woes. However, at some point, doesn’t that speak to a greater problem? Might that indicate there’s an issue with the coaching?

Three turnovers. Nine penalties that cost them 75 yards. The defense allowed the Titans to go 10-19 combined on third and fourth down. No discipline. Hardly any sense of urgency. And don’t get us started on the play calling.

Anyway, let’s dive in and examine how the Colts’ coaching staff may have been largely responsible for the loss to the Titans.

These three plays in Colts’ loss to to Titans prove there might be a problem with the coaching staff.

3. Titans TD Pass to Geoff Swaim

We’re really not being facetious here. Can somebody explain Matt Eberflus’ defensive scheme to us, please? There’s no pass rush, which isn’t entirely his fault … but then why are receivers constantly left wide open over the middle of the field? This was an issue when the team was fully healthy, so don’t go blaming it on injuries.

When you’re rushing four players, there’s hardly an excuse for life to be this easy for the opposing offense when the QB drops back to pass. And we couldn’t help but notice how that was encapsulated on this 3rd and 2 from the Colts’ three-yard line.

Just watch. Four down linemen rush. SEVEN players are in coverage. TWO linebackers bit on one of the worst fakes you’ll ever see. And tight end Geoff Swaim was wide open for the touchdown.

Remember last week against the 49ers when Jimmy Garoppolo, at times, was able to effortlessly gash the defense through the air? That’s because the linebackers were making every wrong read and over-pursuing on play-action. EJ Speed and Bobby Okereke were the victims on this play.

Another thing, though? Can we just play man-to-man, like, once? The Titans, if you pause this play at the four-second mark, have three guys WIDE open: one in the flat and two in the end zone. How is this defensive strategy conducive to success?

It really feels like the players are not being put in the right position to succeed under Eberflus’ system.

2. Carson Wentz’s Pick-Six

OK, you might chalk this up to Wentz’s really bad decision making rearing its ugly head. It’s not like this is anything new. We saw it for years in Philadelphia, and many Colts fans were concerned it’d pop up again at the worst time.

On Sunday, it did. Wentz threw two interceptions — one with 1:30 remaining in the game and the other in overtime — to effectively hand the Titans a win. But isn’t it kind of insane the coaching staff called for a screen pass when they were backed up on their own eight-yard line with just 93 seconds left in the game?

What good does this do? It allows a good Titans’ pass rush to get to the QB faster and it forces Wentz to make a hasty decision. Was nobody in his ear before the play saying, “PLEASE, if nothing is there, rifle it into the ground. Just kill the play.” Instead, the execution was awful, center Ryan Kelly was standing directly in front of the intended receiver, and then Wentz tried to improvise.

The Titans also only rushed four here. What are we doing? You have two linemen on the ground. One just standing there doing nothing. Another blocking the area where the pass needs to go. And the right tackle is five yards up field.

This is supposed to be one of the best and most experienced offensive lines in the sport. They don’t know what they’re doing in crunch time when the game is on the line. Reeks of a coaching problem to us.

1. Xavier Rhodes’ Egregious Missed Tackle on AJ Brown

Execution, penalties and tackling all come down to discipline. Discipline is enforced by the coaching staff. So how did the supposed veteran leader of the Colts’ secondary put on this pitiful of a display?

In heartbreaking fashion, after Tyquan Lewis intercepted Ryan Tannehill, he stumbled, injured his knee, and fumbled the ball right back to Tennessee … with nobody nearby.

That gave the Titans another second chance, which the Colts were keen on gifting away after going up 14-0. The very next play? A 57-yard touchdown to AJ Brown to tie the game. Why did this happen? Because cornerback Xavier Rhodes decided to give up on the play.

What. Is. That? Instead of a 20-yard gain, with no guaranteed points, Rhodes’ pathetic attempt at tackling Brown resulted in 37 more yards and a touchdown with four minutes left in the half.

How do you not bench Rhodes after an effort like that? Put in literally anybody else and you’ll get better results. It’s not like Rhodes has been locking down receivers all year! He’s been injured and looks like the 2019 version of himself. Hasn’t been elevating this defense whatsoever outside of a solid performance against the 49ers in the pouring rain.

But more importantly, why is effort like this allowed to exist on this Colts team that we were told was filled with a combination of stars and underdogs ready to prove the entire world wrong?

Colts: 3 embarrassing Carson Wentz moments that lost Indy AFC South

The Indianapolis Colts will not be winning the AFC South thanks in large part to Carson Wentz, who was all over the damn place on Sunday.