Colts’ Owner Praised by Former NFL MVP for Unique Tactic
The Indianapolis Colts climbed to 7-1 after dismantling the Tennessee Titans 38-14 on Sunday. They have a firm grasp on first place in the AFC south with a 2.5-game lead on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While I would think the main reason for the team’s success is the play of quarterback Daniel Jones, some are attributing the Colts’ hot start to the sideline presence of owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon. I personally don’t, but when you’re winning I guess it’s fun to point to different reasons why.
Former NFL MVP Cam Newton said on the “4th and 1” podcast that he thinks Irsay-Gordon’s presence (with headset and everything) has absolutely had an impact on the team this year.
“She’s a big stepper now! … She is making her presence felt, and it’s leading to wins,” Newton said. “We’ve never seen a team have this type of run, like you said, in the last 25 years.
“She’s doing something right, and it’s extremely commendable. It raises eyebrows and the thought process in here. Do we need more women in sports? Because what they provide is something that most men would overlook.
“Some say women are more organized, detail-oriented, more sharp. Not a lot of times head coaches want the involvement of upper management. Why? Because they may feel that they’re micromanaging them. But, at the same time, if I’m paying you, you don’t get to tell me how I should run my team.”
Irsay-Gordon took over when her father died
Long-time owner of the Colts Jim Irsay passed away in late May of this year, and his daughters – Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson – inherited the team to carry on his legacy and, of course, make some money in the process.
Irsay-Gordon took over as the principal owner and CEO and talked about her decision to have a headset on the sidelines to listen to communication between the coaches.
“I need to be able to say, ‘Is this person full of BS? Do they even know what they’re talking about?’” she said in June. “I think one of the things being on the headset has really helped me learn is, to the question earlier, it is such a complex organism, a football team and how it operates. …. You could say, ‘Oh, that person ran that route wrong.’ When you learn, ‘Oh, someone tagged the wrong wide receiver, and it wasn’t really the player’s fault. It was the person that called it.
“That’s been very valuable because it also helps us be able to know, where do we need to make tweaks? What resources do we need? What do we need to fix? So much comes down to how we operate and how things work and the headsets, … I would suggest it for anyone else that has to pay coaches and GMs millions and millions of dollars. It helps you make a less expensive mistake, potentially.”
Does Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s presence on the sideline really help?
Count me amongst those that think Irsay-Gordon wearing a headset anywhere – let alone on the sidelines – listening to the inner workings of the coaching staff on game days is a terrible idea. Who wants their boss monitoring every detail of their job?
It’s not so much that she’s going to hear some appalling language and have a conniption. She’s been around football enough to understand that some abnormal colorful language will be used.
But, is it possible that any human is going to do the same job with their boss listening as they might when they know they are in a safe space with fellow employees?
I firmly believe that if Jones was terrible and the Colts were 2-6, fans would be calling on her to fire herself.
Bo Nix Explains the 'Edge' J.K. Dobbins Has Brought to Broncos
When the Denver Broncos signed veteran running back J.K. Dobbins, head coach Sean Payton thought he was getting a starting-caliber ball-carrier for his offense. Payton was definitely right about that, as halfway through the season, Dobbins ranks third in the NFL in rushing, but the sixth-year back has also been a tremendous leader and tone-setter for the Broncos.
Ask Bo Nix, who's been around since before Dobbins' arrival. There's an edge present on this offense that perhaps wasn't there last year.
“Just an edge. We’re going to be a top offense. We’re going to do the right things at practice. We’re going to play over again if we haven’t done it right," Nix said on Wednesday when asked what Dobbins brings to the table. "He just has those guys playing hard for him, and he’s running the ball really well."
Dobbins is averaging north of five yards per carry, and he's already rushed for 634 yards and four touchdowns. He's on pace to obliterate his previous career-high rushing marks.
More Than a Ball-Carrier
Beyond what Dobbins does when the ball is in his hands, his leadership and mentoring of the younger players in the Broncos' running back room have been indispensable, including rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey. These are the intangible traits the Broncos didn't realize they were getting when they signed him to a
He’s doing a good job. He’s out there helping RJ with different things. He’s being a great leader, and he’s just putting his head down and he goes to work," Nix said of Dobbins.
The other aspects of Dobbins' game, including his pass protection and pass-catching acumen, come as a welcome on-field bonus to Nix, who's only been sacked eight times this season.
"He plays really hard. I know I mentioned after the [Cowboys] game, but he protects well. He protects for the pocket, he runs routes, and catches the football out of the backfield," Nix said of Dobbins. "He runs the ball hard when he gets his chance. We always knew he was a complete back, but he’s really showing that off right now.”
Dobbins is putting together an All-Pro-caliber campaign. It would help Dobbins' outlook for end-of-season accolades if Payton would scheme him up a few touchdowns inside the 5-yard line, but Dobbins was probably happy to see Harvey score three times last week vs. the Dallas Cowboys, which earned him NFL
Dobbins Wants to Retire a Bronco
Dobbins is at the midway point of his one-year deal, and he already knows that he wants to return to Denver. Heck, the 26-year-old wants to finish his NFL career with the Broncos.
Although Dobbins wants an extension for those reasons, he's not allowing himself to dwell on it right now. If he can stay healthy throughout the season, the Broncos could start thinking seriously about an extension in December sometime.
"As far as [an] extension, and stuff like that, that doesn't cross my mind. But me just wanting to be here in Denver? Yes. I hope to end my career here and be here for the rest of my time in the NFL,"
Dobbins' next matchup is a doozy vs. the Houston Texans' fifth-ranked rushing defense. However, if he can eclipse the century mark again, he'll become the first Bronco since Melvin Gordon in 2021 to post three 100-yard games in a season.
