setting up the Sunday 9/10 Colts game

from PFT’s Week One picks

Mike Florio

PFT’s Week One picks

Colts at Rams

MDS’s take: Are you excited for the Jared Goff vs. Scott Tolzien quarterback matchup? I’ll take Goff’s guys to win at home.

MDS’s pick: Rams 20, Colts 17.

Florio’s take: If L.A. getting football back means L.A. witnessing Scott Tolzien and Jared Goff, maybe L.A. is better off without football.

Florio’s pick: Rams 24, Colts 10.

With Many Unknowns, How have Rams Prepared for Colts?

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/With-Many-Unknowns-How-have-Rams-Prepared-for-Colts/e8ea16ed-d3de-48d1-9247-7898ce79eb6c

The Rams have a new coaching staff and have turned over much of their personnel — especially on offense. Los Angeles kept things schematically vanilla in its four preseason contests as well, not revealing much in preparation for the games that count.

Those factors likely have presented challenges for the Colts when it comes to preparing for this week’s game at the Coliseum. But Indianapolis’ roster turnover has presented L.A. with some questions to answer as well.

The Colts hired Chris Ballard as their general manager in late January, and he’s since embarked on a roster overhaul. Indianapolis enters Week 1 having replaced 26 of the 53 men on 2016’s opening-day roster. The changes are particularly noticeable on defense, where only one of Indy’s Week 1 starters last year even remains on the roster.

That’s why offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur described preparing for this week’s game as “a little bit of a guessing game.”

“It’s not like we’re studying those players necessarily from last year — we’re studying what they do schematically and then what they put on tape during the preseason,” LaFleur said on Friday. “So, it is a little bit of a guessing game, but I think our guys are well prepared for whatever we’re going to see.”

“I mean, the structure has stayed the same, and that’s basically the only thing that’s truly stayed the same,” offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said. “You get a little bit of reps out of preseason, but if you want to see some of the guys who play on the defensive line, you have to go to their prior teams to check them out.”

Because of that, Saffold said he’s anticipating the first drive to be a learning experience — both for the players and play-caller head coach Sean McVay — just to see how the Colts actually decide to attack the Rams’ offense.

“I’m sure coach McVay is going to be trying to feel them out,” Saffold said. “But I feel like after that first drive, we kind of know what they’re about. And we need to try to attack them the way we can.”

Unless a team is playing inside its own division, the mystery of how an opponent will come out schematically is a common phenomenon in Week 1.

“Playing guys twice a year, every year, you get the experience from last year,” Saffold said. “So you have to study prior teams, and that’s what makes it a little bit tougher. But I think we have a good idea. And I definitely think we’re well prepared.”

Nevertheless, LaFleur said Los Angeles feels optimistic heading into this week’s matchup.

“It’s going to be a good test on Sunday,” LaFleur said. “Indy presents a lot of challenges in terms of just, it’s a man-matched defense that is pretty aggressive and they’re pretty opportunistic. So, it’s going to be fun to watch our guys get out there and compete for a full four quarters. But, we’re optimistic.”

Rams will have multi-threat Tavon Austin at their disposal against the Colts

Gary Klein

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-report-20170908-story.html

Some optimism was well-founded, some apparently not.

For more than a month, Rams coach Sean McVay had expressed confidence that receiver Tavon Austin and defensive lineman Aaron Donald would be available to play in Sunday’s opener against the Indianapolis Colts at the Coliseum.

Austin recovered from a hamstring injury and will play, McVay said Friday.

Donald, however, remains absent because of a contract dispute.

Throughout the week, McVay declined to rule out the three-time Pro Bowl player for the opener. He finally ended the gamesmanship on Friday.

“We’re still trying to find a way to come to a solution,” McVay said, “but it’s safe to say that he won’t be a part of this game.”

Austin could play several roles for a team that conducted an offseason overhaul of the receiving corps.

It began during free agency with the departures of Kenny Britt and Brian Quick, and the signing of Robert Woods. It continued through the draft with the selection of Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds. A training camp trade for deep threat Sammy Watkins provided an exclamation point.

Austin, who signed a four-year, $42-million extension before the 2016 season, was sidelined throughout offseason workouts while recovering from wrist surgery. He sat out nearly all of training camp because of a hamstring injury.

Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson didn’t get a long-term contract, but he’s a team captain
He returned to practice in a limited role before the final preseason game at Green Bay, and then participated in a full-speed pregame workout with other skill-position players at Lambeau Field.

He was a full participant in practice this week.

“We’re excited to have him back,” McVay said.

McVay would not specify how the 5-foot-8, 179-pound Austin will be deployed, but he could line up wide or in the slot as a receiver, or in the backfield as a running back or receiver. He also is expected to return punts.

“When the coaches call my number, I’ll just be ready,” said Austin, who has scored 12 touchdowns on passes, eight on runs and three on punt returns.

When McVay and his new staff arrived in January, the receiver group was “a little bit of a question mark,” offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur said.

But that group is now regarded as multidimensional, and Austin’s return adds to the mix.

“When you get the guy that, again, is explosive as Tavon, that has that home-run capability, it definitely gives you a lot of just some favorable matchups out there,” LaFleur said.

Now it gets real

Seven of the eight players the Rams selected in this year’s draft could play against the Colts.

Kupp, tight end Gerald Everett and defensive lineman Tanzel Smart are expected to either start or play a significant number of snaps.

Reynolds, safety John Johnson and linebackers Samson Ebukam and Ejuan Price also might contribute on offense, defense or special teams.

Fullback Sam Rogers is on the practice squad and will not play.

Everett, a second-round pick, is looking forward to his first regular-season NFL game.

“First and foremost, just playing on Sunday — I’m pretty sure it’s going to be pretty surreal,” he said.

Johnson, a fourth-round draft pick, will play on special teams. He said he would be prepared for more if his name or number is called.

“I’m right next to the coach — I’m in his pocket like, ‘Whenever you need me, I’m ready,’ ” Johnson said, laughing. “He’ll probably speak like just the first letter and I’m already running out there.

“So I’m ready.”

Etc.

The Rams listed no players on the injury report. McVay credited the athletic training staff, the strength and conditioning staff and players for managing injuries in the run-up to the opener. “The ultimate goal in mind was being able to have guys ready to go for Sept. 10, and that’s where we’re at right now,” McVay said. … Sunday’s game at the Coliseum follows the USC-Stanford game on Saturday. This will be one of three times the Rams play the day after a Trojans home game.

Game Preview: Rams Set to Open Season vs. Colts

Kristen Lago

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Game-Preview-Rams-Set-to-Open-Season-vs-Colts/d7192359-5434-4733-b4b8-ee2e1ae936aa

Football is back.

The regular season is finally upon us, as the Rams will host the Colts at the Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. When the two teams last met in 2013, the Rams executed well in all three phases to down Indianapolis, 38-8.

This week head coach Sean McVay is looking for his team to do this same, beginning his tenure in Los Angeles with a successful home opener.

“It certainly has a different feeling this week. I know I’m excited about it [and] I certainly feel it from our players and our coaching staff,” McVay said. “Our guys have done a great job of utilizing the offseason program and training camp to put ourselves in a position to be ready to go. But, we know that we’re still focused on taking it one day at a time and hopefully that will lead to us peaking at one o’clock on Sunday.”

The Rams’ “one day at a time” approach has allowed them to come into Sunday’s game injury free. The Colts, however, have not been as fortunate. Indianapolis will be without three of its primary players for the season opener: quarterback Andrew Luck, center Ryan Kelly, and cornerback Vontae Davis.

Without Luck, veteran backup Scott Tolzien will be the Colts’ signal-caller. Undrafted rookie Deyshawn Bond is expected to get the start at center. During the preseason, Tolzien started in all four games, completing 23 of 34 passes, for 241 yards and one interception. And although McVay acknowledged the benefit in taking on an offense without its starting quarterback, he recognizes the challenges Tolzien can present.

“Well, I’ve got a lot of respect for Andrew Luck. To say that I’m disappointed not to see him, I probably wouldn’t say that,” McVay said with a laugh. “But, what I would say is that, a lot of respect for them as a team, for Scott Tolzien. And we know that it’s going to be a great challenge. I think they’ve got great players on that offense.”

The Rams’ defense will face off against two very talented Colts’ stars on Sunday — wide receiver T.Y Hilton, who led the NFL in receiving yards last season, and running back Frank Gore, who has accumulated over 13,000 yards in his career, including 1,025 yards last year.

“The Colts have a really good offense, they’ve got a premiere receiver in the league and [offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski] ‘Chud’ does a great job,” Rams’ defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said on Thursday.

Philips plans to utilize his secondary to contain Hilton and shut down the Colts’ primary receiving target. Expect cornerbacks Trumaine Johnson and Kayvon Websterto match up with Hilton throughout the game.

“‘Chud’ is a really good coordinator and he’s got a great player there and he utilizes him,” Phillips said. “That’s what you do, you put him in situations where you can get him one-on-one and you can get him running option routes where he can go any way he sees, which he’s great at. So, you have to double him every play, so we will.”

Although many defensive starters will see their first game action of the year this weekend — including Webster, outside linebacker Robert Quinn, and linebacker Mark Barron — the defense as a whole did not express any major concerns about playing together for the first time.

“Not at all because we’ve been working together throughout this whole camp and OTA’s so as far as that, no, not at all,” Johnson said.

“I don’t know that I’m concerned, I’m just waiting to kind of see how we do,” Phillips said. “I think there’s going to be good things. I’ve been impressed with our practices and we have all our guys healthy and all of them are practicing now, so you’ve got to carry that to the game, but I thought we’ve practiced really well.”

Though defensive takcle Aaron Doanld reported to the Rams on Saturday morning, he will not play in Sunday’s game.

On offense, quarterback Jared Goff will take the field on Sunday for his first season opener. Last season, Goff was inactive for Week 1 against the 49ers. This year, however, the former No. 1 pick is ready to show off the team’s development on offense and make a strong statement in front of the Rams’ home crowd.

“I think as a whole we’ve really improved everywhere — not only offensively, but defensively, special teams, everywhere we’ve improved,” Goff said. “I think I speak for a lot of people when I say we feel really good where we’re at.”

“I think we’ve done a good job so far up to this point game planning and getting a good sense of what they do defensively,” he added. “They do a lot of things well and they do have a lot of good players there, so we’re excited to get a chance to see them this Sunday and get a chance to show off what we’ve worked on the last six to nine months.”

The Rams receiving corps has been strengthened this season through the addition of playmakers like Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins, and Cooper Kupp. Wide receiver Tavon Austin is also expected to contribute in Sunday’s game, after missing the entire preseason with a hamstring injury. And because the Colts will be without their primary cornerback, expect the Rams to look to exploit downfield matchups.

“Absolutely, every time one of their star players is not playing, you have to take advantage of that,” wide receiver Pharoh Cooper said. “I know the coaches have alerted us and told us that because they have seen it on film. So we’re just going to try and attack, try our best to get open. And without their best corner playing, it should open up a lot of passes.”

Running back Todd Gurley also saw increased playing time throughout the preseason and is expected to be a major contributor for the offense this season. And after being named a captain for the second-straight year, the running back also said he feels added responsibility coming into Sunday’s game.

“For that to be my second year in a row to be a captain it means a lot. So, I appreciate that – just trying to work hard and try to be the best leader, the best teammate I can be,” he said. “When you have that ‘C’ that gives you just a little bit more edge to do a little bit more, say a little bit more, because they voted for you for a reason,” he said.

Gurley also expressed confidence at his team’s ability to produce on offense.

“You know it’s just a new offense. It felt like things have been clicking,” Gurley said. “We feel a lot more comfortable with the offensive schemes that we’ve been running the last four, five months…Just going out there and practicing, executing – not looking sloppy, catching the ball, running the ball, not turning the ball over. The more things you do…the more comfortable you get. So that’s just kind of how we feel right now.”

For McVay, Sunday will represent his first true test as an NFL head coach. And while he is prepared for the jitters that come along with a season opener, he is also ready to take on the many challenges that lie ahead, beginning with the Colts this weekend.

“Once the game kicks off you’re getting right into your normal flow and hopefully that’s how it feels, but there’s certainly a level of excitement and I’m very fortunate to be in this role and to have the opportunity to be a part of this team,” he said.

“It’s an exciting thing, it’s not a nervous thing,” McVay continued. “It’s confidence to watch our guys go compete, confident that hopefully our preparation will allow our coaches to make good decisions and put our players in good spots and confident that it’s going to be a great opportunity to go compete against a great opponent.”

5 things I think for Colts vs. Rams: Scott Tolzien has a chance — really

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2017/09/09/5-things-think-colts-vs-rams-scott-tolzien-has-chance-really/641966001/

Here are five things I think ahead of the Indianapolis Colts opening their 2017 regular season Sunday against the Rams in Los Angeles (4:05 p.m., TV: CBS, Radio: WFNI-AM (1070)):

1. I think the Colts are beyond lucky that Aaron Donald’s not playing.

The Colts will be without their best player on Sunday. So, too, will the Rams.

Andrew Luck won’t play, as the Colts’ star quarterback continues to rehab from his January shoulder operation. Rams stud defensive tackle Aaron Donald won’t either, as he continues holding out in hopes of securing a long-term deal. What’s that you hear? That’s Scott Tolzien, celebrating.

Same goes for the Colts’ interior linemen, two of whom will be starting their first NFL game.

Tolzien will get the nod for the Colts under center, the fourth regular-season start of his career, while Donald, one of the elite defensive players in all of football, remains at odds with Rams’ management, demanding he be paid like it. Donald is under contract with L.A. for two more years on his rookie deal, and is set to make $1.8 million this season. In terms of production, he’s worth far more. Donald’s amassed 28 sacks in three seasons, a ridiculous number for a defensive tackle.

As for the Colts, it’s a massive break for an ever-fluid offensive line that will, for the sixth-consecutive season, start a new group in Week 1. Donald’s absence will undoubtedly help undrafted rookie Deyshawn Bond, who’ll get the nod at center for the Colts, and Jeremy Vujnovich, who’s starting his first NFL game at left guard. Right guard Jack Mewhort missed portions of the preseason but vowed this week he’ll be 100 percent heading into Sunday.

2. I think Tolzien’s got a shot. Really.

The Colts said all along that if Luck wouldn’t be ready to play for the first week, they’d move forward with Tolzien, no questions asked. Now that’s their reality. It’s not pretty. But all is not lost.

Thus the onus shifts to offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who’ll have to pick and choose his spots to be aggressive, just as he did a year ago when Tolzien saw his only start with the team on Thanksgiving night.

Tolzien went 22-for-36 in that loss to the Steelers, throwing for 205 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Colts moved the ball fairly efficiently, only to twice come up empty-handed in fourth-and-goal situations — once, when former wideout Phillip Dorsett dropped a pass in the endzone, another time when Tolzien botched a bootleg run.

The stark difference this time will be the Colts won’t feel like they need to score 25 or more points to win. The Rams were dead last in the league in scoring in 2016 at just 14 per game. Anything in double digits might be enough to win this.

“He’s a guy that works as hard if not harder than anybody in the building,” Chudzinski said about Tolzien. “He’s here all the time. He’s trying to get it right.

“He doesn’t have to be Andrew Luck. He just has to be Scott Tolzien; the best Scott Tolzien he can be.”

Chuck Pagano, Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts, talks about his feelings going into the first game of the season, a Sunday contest in Los Angeles, against the Rams, Indianapolis, Friday, September 8, 2017. Robert Scheer/IndyStar

3. I think the Colts are overdue for a season-opening win.

In each of the past three years, the Colts have stumbled out of the gate, dropping their first two games of the season. Only in 2014 did they recover, ripping off five-straight wins and eventually advancing to the conference title game. The past two years, they finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs.

Even with Luck temporarily sidelined, Indy has a chance to avoid the early-season cellar. Three of their first five games are against the Rams, the Browns and the 49ers, teams that combined for six wins in 2016. The Colts will host Bruce Arians’ Cardinals in Week 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium and head to Seattle for a stiff road test in Week 4.

Without knowing when The Franchise can return, any victory — ugly as it needs to be — is welcomed.

“We want to start fast. If we focus on the results and not the process, we’ll get screwed up,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said this week. “Process has no fear. You start focusing on results and you get away from the things that win football games and that’s great fundamentals, great communication, efficiency, execution, eliminating turnovers, creating turnovers, don’t penalize yourself.”

Considering the quality of opponents the Colts will see on the backend of the schedule (Houston twice, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Denver, Baltimore) it will be imperative for this team to get off to a good start. Also, remember: Only once in the Pagano era, 2013, have the Colts won their season opener. They’re 1-5 overall.

Indianapolis Colts coordinators Ted Monachino and Rob Chudzinski and safety Darius Butler talk about the team’s preparation for their upcoming season opener against the Rams, during practice at the Colts complex, Indianapolis, Sept. 7, 2017. Jenna Watson/IndyStar

4. I think it’s time to see if this new-look Colts defense is for real.

The Colts will field at least nine new starters on defense Sunday, symbolic of this team’s ambitious rebuild on that side of the ball. It can’t go worse than last season, right? The Colts finished 30th in total defense, their worst since moving to Indy in 1984.

Gone are veteran starters Robert Mathis, D’Qwell Jackson, Mike Adams and Kendall Langford.

In their place? New arrivals John Simon, Jabaal Sheard, Malik Hooker and Johnathan Hankins.

“Yeah, there’s a lot of moving pieces,” said one of those new faces, starting inside linebacker Jon Bostic. “But at the end of the day, we’re going to expect guys come in and do the job they’re being asked to do.”

The emphasis, from the spring through this week’s opener, has been on takeaways. In that regard, General Manager Chris Ballard has liked what he’s seen thus far. They can be the great equalizer for a team lacking star power on the defensive side of the ball.

“They’ll play hard and they’ve gotten the fact that we need to take the ball away,” Ballard said Monday. “They understand that. You see them stabbing at it. That makes a difference in ballgames. Taking the football away and taking care of the football is a difference-maker on Sundays.”

And with veteran cornerback Vontae Davis out for at least a few more weeks, the onus will shift to the team’s young trio of defense backs, a group that have to learn on-the-go this season. Cornerbacks Quincy Wilson and Nate Hairston, as well as Hooker, the first-round pick at safety, all expect to see a considerable number of snaps starting Sunday.

5. I think the Colts could get the best of Jared Goff.

Jared Goff had a rocky rookie season. (Photo: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports)
It’s no secret that second-year quarterback Jared Goff, 2016’s No. 1 overall pick, struggled last season and, at times, struggled this preseason. In seven games last year, Goff threw five touchdowns to go with seven interceptions. His passer rating was a dismal 63.6, and it climbed above 82 just once.

Goff went 24-for-32 in preseason work this year (one touchdown, one interception). At his disposal are two weapons, running back Todd Gurley and newly acquired wideout Sammy Watkins, that figure to ease the burden on the QB and present the Colts’ defense with some challenges.

“Big, talented guy, good manager of the offense,” Pagano said of Goff. “Good manager of the offense, making good decisions, got arm talent, can make all the throws.”

The one area on his football team Ballard seemed to take comfort in was the defensive line. Long a glaring weakness on the defense, Ballard’s 2017 group actually has depth — two of the players cut over the weekend were picked up by other teams (T.Y. McGill is on the Browns’ active roster, David Parry the Saints’ practice squad). The prized offseason acquisition spoke in truths this week.

“It starts in the trenches,” Hankins said. “They’ve got a great running back with a great offensive line. They just picked up (wideout) Sammy Watkins, so that’s another weapon to worry about. So if we can stop the run and focus our attention on the receivers and get to the quarterback, I think it’d be vital for us.”

Hankins is right. For the Colts to have any shot, the defense will have to carry the day.