The DNA of a Championship Team
Shane Steichen, the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, believes that championship-level teams share a common DNA. This DNA, according to Steichen, includes elements like creating takeaways on defense, having a balanced offense capable of scoring in various ways, and a coaching staff that can make real-time adjustments. These principles have been part of football since its inception.
What is new, however, is that Steichen's team has consistently shown signs of possessing this DNA in abundance. Through the first half of the season, the Colts (7-1) have forced more turnovers than only Chicago and Jacksonville. They have recorded twelve turnovers in eight weeks heading into their game against Pittsburgh (4-3). Additionally, no other offense has produced more yards or points than the one guided by Steichen and coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. The duo credits a sense of collaboration among the coaching staff for the team's unexpected success.
The past two months have been a whirlwind for the Colts, who haven't made the playoffs in five years. Despite their strong performance, they are not getting ahead of themselves. "Don’t get complacent with anything because we know, like I’ve said before, it’s a week-to-week league and we got to come ready," Steichen said. "I mean we’re going to play a hell of a football team on the road in a hostile environment so we’ve got to be ready to roll."
Technically, Steichen is right. Acrisure Stadium can be a hostile place, and recently, that hostility has been directed at the home team. The Steelers have dropped two straight games and look like a team that is struggling despite being the first-place group in name only. Their defense, the NFL's highest-paid, is dead last in the league against the pass and 30th overall. They haven't produced a takeaway in a month and allowed Green Bay's Jordan Love to complete 20 straight passes in a 35-25 loss that didn't feel as close as the final score indicated.
Still, Mike Tomlin is not panicking. He has weathered many storms during his 18-plus seasons in Pittsburgh, with all of them ending with his team finishing .500 or better and often making the postseason. While there are things the Steelers need to correct quickly, especially with a challenging November schedule that includes four games against teams with winning records, Tomlin remains focused. "The fix happens in stadium," Tomlin said. "And the rest of it is just talk."
Taylor’s Trends
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is the hottest player on the league's hottest offense. He scored three more touchdowns last week, marking the third time he's done so in four games and the fourth time this season. He needed just 12 carries to produce 153 yards rushing. Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards (850), touchdown runs (12), and total touchdowns (14), and shows no sign of slowing down.
“His vision has been off the charts,” Steichen said. “But the physicality, the way he’s running through these arm tackles and spinning 360 (degrees) off these guys and getting the extra yards and toe tapping on the sidelines. I mean, it’s hard to really explain because it’s so impressive to watch.”
E for Effort?
Longtime Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward raised eyebrows inside and outside the locker room when he questioned his team's fight in the second half against Green Bay, when the Packers scored on five straight possessions to win going away. The 35-year-old did not back down in the aftermath, putting the onus on the group to stick together during a difficult stretch.
“I challenge everybody, I challenge myself first and foremost, that’s always the way I’ve been raised,” Heyward said. “You can’t look at anybody else, you've got to look at yourself. And the way to get this bad taste out of our mouth is just play better football.”
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers brushed aside the notion that the Steelers need to “rally the troops.” They've played good football. Just not lately.
“I don’t know if we need to (rally the troops),” the league's oldest active player said. “I think you got to stay the course.”
Homecoming Week
Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren became a breakout star when he helped lead Penn State to the college football semifinals. A little over 10 months later, Warren returns to Pennsylvania looking every bit the dynamic playmaker he was for the Nittany Lions. Warren is on pace to smash the club rookie records for catches and receiving yards by a tight end and will be facing a Steelers defense that will be without injured safety DeShon Elliott, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
"They do all kind of things with (Warren) because he’s really versatile and he’s a really good player," Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. "So it’s going be a big challenge. Obviously, losing DeShon will make it harder. But that’s the NFL."