Wesley French … Meet Vita Vea
November 24th, 2023
This is where Todd Bowles must prove himself as a defensive guru wizard.
The Colts are down their starting center, Ryan Kelly. He’s a quality center, too.
In his place Sunday against the Bucs will be undrafted Wesley French. He came out of college last year and will make his third career start at center. The other two came earlier this season when French had concussion issues.
This situation should represent a quality dent in the Colts’ running game — and a huge opportunity for Vita Vea to be a game-wrecker while Bowles dials up all kinds of schemes to take advantage of the backup center.
Of course, lots of backup centers step up and make their mark and the Colts ran the ball very well against Baltimore and the Rams when French started games. (When Joe says ran “well,” Joe means actual solid rushing numbers, not the stuff the Bucs deliver on offense.)
Still, per Joe’s research, Aaron Donald moved around the Rams defensive line a lot that day against Indianapolis and had good numbers. And now there’s two games of film on French for Bowles to analyze.
Vea, however, is a unique manbeast for French to handle.
The Bucs season is on the line. This is the kind of trenches matchup the Bucs need to win big — kind of like how the Colts will need to capitalize on Lavonte David sitting out with a bad groin.
Ira Kaufman Talks Dave Canales Future, Must-Win Territory, Front Office Level Self-Scouting, Colts Game Predictions, Coaching Decisions, And Much More
November 24th, 2023 at 9:40 pm
Stop using guru because he doesn’t fit that bill. He needs a great offense that scores a lot of points forcing teams to be one dimensional which truly plays into this defenses weakness which is pass defense. He plays too much zone defense knowing this team sucks at it. If he’s smart he’ll play Indy the way he played Tennessee, we’ll wait and see since he didn’t play that way against San Fran
November 24th, 2023 at 9:53 pm
LVD out is huge
November 24th, 2023 at 10:07 pm
TB has to be aggressive in this game, Minshew is nothing to be scared of.
November 24th, 2023 at 10:26 pm
Critical game. Having a crappy division is a bit frustrating as there will remain hope that we can stay in the race, delaying the opportunity to see what we have in some younger players, and the clarity that sweeping changes are needed.
With that said, go on a winning streak and there is a slim chance that this season could be decent. Go win it or be prepared to blow it up
November 25th, 2023 at 1:07 am
Bowles stated in one of these here columns that he doesn’t prepare too much for games. I recall my response to that statement…I puked.
I wonder what he thought of super prepared Brady and his research notebooks. Ya think that type of preparation turned out well for TB12?
I think Bowles quit on this team and he is just playing out the string. He knows he’s fired so why prepare?
November 25th, 2023 at 2:02 am
He’ll get plenty of help from the interior o line because we have no edge pass rush and we all know JTS is going to play the majority of the game
November 25th, 2023 at 6:14 am
Toddradamus predicts:
“JTS 23 snaps, no tackles, sacks or TFL.” (But damn, he wins in the “almost got to the QB before he ran OOB!)
“YaYa Diaby 7 snaps, 3 tackles, 1 sack and 1 TFL.”
Todd Bowles presser after the loss, “We’re happy with YaYa’s progress. He’s warning some more playing time. He did well on our planned rotation.”
And then…Todd gets fired.
November 25th, 2023 at 6:15 am
“He’s EARNING some more playing time…”
November 25th, 2023 at 8:16 am
“In his place Sunday against the Bucs will be undrafted Wesley French. He came out of college last year and will make his third career start at center. The other two came earlier this season when French had concussion issues.”
So, French started two games when “French had concussion issues”?
“And now there’s two games of film on French for Bowles to analyze.”
“There’s” is a conjunction for the words “there” & “is” and would be correct if there was only one game. “‘There are’ two games…” is proper, grammatically because, there have been multiple games played, by French.
I’ve offered before, Joe. I’m here if you need me.
Bowles will be too busy analyzing how he can exploit experienced back-up QB Menshew with his back-up “cover-corners” who begin each play 8-10 yards off of the ball, only to let the receivers run unabated to one of the many gaping holes in the zone for one of many (WAO-Wide A$$ Open) receptions, that leads to 4+ more yards of YAC after breaking a minimum of one tackle. Sound right?
November 25th, 2023 at 9:19 am
I’m rooting for a 5-2 finish, another Division title, and at least a decent showing in the first round. If Baker repeats his Cleveland effort and wins that first game on the road..that’s a huge bonus.
First win the Division get to the playoffs. Before everybody lambasts me as unrealistic, I didn’t say I’m headed to Vegas to lay down $$$. Unlike a few here I’m an actual fan…as in FANatic. The odds may be long but they’re not insurmountable.
November 25th, 2023 at 9:34 am
I’m expecting and hoping Vea and the rest have a good day against Indy. I have less faith in our pass coverage especially if we are getting pressure on Minshew and he has to hit quick throws underneath with our DBs playing 10 yards off.
Minshew is exactly the kind of QB we need to face right now but he’s also the kind of QB that we struggle with. He’s not terrible but probably thinks he’s better than he is so he has no problem taking chances and if we play that soft zone and can’t squeeze the ball for INTs, he’ll leave the game thinking he’s Payton Manning.
As a side note, I think this is the game where R. White breaks 100 yards rushing for the first time. Just a feeling I have.
November 25th, 2023 at 11:55 am
Todd. Bowles. He will over think it, over complicate it, and with no LVD, no one will understand what defense is called because Devin White can’t communicate.
The losses to the Falcons and Texans, which rest squarely on Todd’s shoulders, are season killers, and this one will bury Bowles once and for all.
November 25th, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Bowles The WIZARD…HAHAHAHA HOW DID HE GET A GOOD D REP? He sucks as HC/DC all the way. A natural born loser….The Colts may be bad enough for a win or a tie or a Glorious Loss.
November 25th, 2023 at 7:47 pm
You clowns pass yourselves off as Bucs fans. You’re anything but! So, LVD has to take a break. Mebbe Devon White will show up, mebbe? And VV needs the help of guys like JTS to get in the backfield and disrupt the Colts. Bowles will bring it on. My concern is Canales. His Offense is healthy. Will he finally call a game worthy of them?