Raiders Coaches Explain How They’re Preparing For Unknown From Colts
Nov 10, 2022, 11:00 AM
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 06: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders attempts a pass in the fourth quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguarsat TIAA Bank Field on November 06, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
The Indianapolis Colts have made some coaching changes this week that have felt many scratching their heads.
Fifth-year head coach Frank Reich was fired following the team’s loss to the Patriots on Sunday. The team then named former center and current ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday as its interim coach.
Starting this weekend against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Colts’ pass game specialist/assistant QBs coach will call the offense.
Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said the team is preparing for this by looking at the year of plays so far by the Colts.
“He knows the people and he’s going to know who he’s going to try to get the ball to,” Graham said. “So, I think it starts there. And then schematically, you can’t expect it to change totally over one week. So, you got to prepare for the people. I’m sure he’s been put in that position because he’s earned it, however they evaluate it, he’s earned it. So, I’m sure he’ll be prepared, and we just got to be ready to adjust on Sunday.”
One name that hasn’t changed though is the guy running the defense for Indianapolis, Gus Bradley. He, along with John Fox, are two former head coaches currently on the Colts staff.
Mick Lombardi, the offensive coordinator for the Raiders, said Bradley is a guy who gets his defense to play “extremely hard.”
“They play fast and they get the football,” Lombardi said. “Obviously, they have disruptive players in DeForest Buckner, who’s arguably one of the best defensive linemen in the game. And then you have players in the back end. Steph [Stephon] Gilmore is playing at a high level and obviously he plays very confident football for them. And players on all levels; linebackers play fast, defensive linemen get up the field, and they play sound in their coverage.”
Coach Josh McDaniels said he doesn’t expect the Colts’ schemes to change drastically. He added Saturday will have his team ready, despite not having any coaching experience.
“He’s a football player at heart,” McDaniels said. “He’s a football person at heart, and he knows what goes into winning and losing. He was a tough player when he played.”
