Inside Indiana Sports Breakfast with Kent Sterling

Optimism Wednesday continues, but Alec Pierce (concussion) and DeForest Buckner (hip) did not practice, which is not positive.  Matt Ryan will not fumble a snap this Sunday - GUARANTEED!  There are many reasons to feel good about the Colts this weekend, and we share them - and add a few more!  Frank Reich shared some additional terms for analytics positivity for going for it on fourth down.    

Lots of views this week, so we are giving away a really sweet prize!

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Chris Ballard got so made about Colts failures on both sides of the ball, he fired the kicker!  Several other moves came yesterday, but none are game changers.  

(at 8:14) There are seven great reasons for optimism this Sunday in Jacksonville.  Colts favored and they should be.  If they out-execute and out-hit, they should out score the Jags.  No need for Frank Reich to feel the need to out-think Doug Pederson.  

(at 12:13) Indiana Basketball coaches are busy recruiting Indiana - with two big visits this weekend and coach trips to Montverde.  

(at 14:21) Cubs and Sox win, and I stubbornly refuse to talk Reds.

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Rodrigo Blankenship is being fired, which is appropriate, but the Colts are running short of scapegoats for lackluster play!  At some point linemen, the coach, and GM need to answer for mediocrity.  

A loss in Jacksonville will be unacceptable.  

Honesty is what is needed from the coaches and GM.  Accountability must accompany poor results, but the media gets praise as false as that given to the players to placate us - while the players become the highest paid players at their positions!

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Chris Ballard and Frank Reich decided whether Hot Rod will be their kicker this Sunday at their 5:45 meeting last night.  We'll find out later today whether the missed FG in OT or the two kickoffs out of bounds were enough to force a decision to Leg-o out of town.  

Shaq Leonard will go through the same process as last week to determine whether he plays.  

Colts are four-point favorites to win in a stadium where they have not won since 2014!  The Ryans will have to clean up their snap process to compete in Jacksonville.  

Hoosiers are 6 1/2 point favorites Saturday against Western Kentucky, but ESPN disagrees with that level of optimism!

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Big Q makes the Colts offensive line better, bo question, but how much better was Jonathan Taylor with him for 13 games than without him for four?  The stats tell a surprising story!  

Rodrigo Blankenship is on the hot seat, but is there a great kicker out there to replace him?  How much did the Colts upgrade at the six spots where starters were not retained?  

At what point do we stop buying the Colts as they portray themselves - as a championship operation?

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Matt Ryan mishandling three snaps should be easy to clean up, but can the Colts trust Rodrigo Blankenship again?  Kwity Paye and Grover Stewart were very good, but will Frank Reich ever learn to take points early?  There was good, and there was bad yesterday as the AFC South leading Colts tied the Houston Texans.  

(at 10:34) Quenton Nelson will be paid more than any guard in NFL history, and I'm curious about the ROI for this move given one playoff win in Q's first four seasons.  

(at 12:53) Hoosiers win, so we do the Tom Allen celebration dance!  Marshall beat Notre Dame, and that is not good for a new coach!

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Rodrigo Blankenship is the most obvious scapegoat for the season opening tie in Houston, but not the only one!  There was some good stuff too, buy we won't get to that for a few minutes.    

Should Blankenship have a job tomorrow - should Frank Reich, who chose a direct snap to Nyheim Hines over giving the ball to the NFL's best running back behind the highest paid guard in NFL history?

How does a 14-year vet like Matt Ryan fumble three snaps?  

Kwity Paye, Michael Pittman, and Jonathan Taylor were good, and Ryan had a nice fourth quarter!

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Shaq Leonard will not play Sunday, but ask me how much I worry about that!  

(at 4:47) Specific stat predictions for Colts vs. Texans from the Kentputer!    

(at 8:00) Grades for each Colts position groups.   

(at 11:57) Ivan the Idol with five picks for a weekend of wagering fun!  Does Ivan really pick Matt Eberflus and the Bears to cover against the 49ers at Soldier Field?

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Jonathan Taylor, Matt, Ryan, Yannick Ngakoue, and Reich are among those who will get the trains rolling - or not - on Sunday against the lowly Houston Texans.  It's a huge test for the Colts because it's not expected to be!  

Bills rout the defending champion Rams at So-Fi Stadium behind a massive and disruptive pass rush led by former Ram Von Miller.  

(at 12:03) Indiana Basketball's complete schedule released, and they must start the Big 10 schedule 2-0!  

Cubs lose in 9th and White Sox rout A's as 2017 trade for Jose Quintana looks worse and worse for the Cubs.  

Mudsock Game tonight as Fishers visits HSE - and Cathedral takes on rival Chatard to highlight Indiana high school football schedule tonight!

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Chris Ballard needs the Colts to find a way to at least meet expectations after last season's disappointment, or his seat will get hot.  The odds of that happening are pretty good - and that's the problem!  

Shaquille Leonard does not sound optimistic for Sunday in Houston.    

Waino and Yadi tie the all-time mark for a battery starting an MLB game.  

How about a parlay for tonight's Bills @ Rams Opening Night extravaganza!  

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