Indianapolis Colts Media Conference

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Head Coach Shane Steichen

Postgame Press Conference


Indianapolis - 27, New Orleans - 38

SHANE STEICHEN: First off, no injuries to report. With that, I'll open up with questions.

Q. What went into the decision to start Tony at the third corner spot?

SHANE STEICHEN: We felt good about Tony going into the game. So that was the decision that was made.

Q. Have you ever thought about putting someone else in when he was struggling or you just kind of --

SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, we thought to go with Tony in that game so that's what we went with. Yeah.

Q. Was JT okay in the second half? Because he got the ball off in the first half and I think once in the second --

SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, I think in that situation, wherever he was at, popped a big one. So then, you know, we kept Zack in the game there and just kind of ran the hot hand there. Then, you know, we got in the passing situations towards the end there. And Adams held onto it.

Q. But he's okay, there was no --

SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, he's good.

Q. Okay.

SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah.

Q. Gardner has -- I mean, he didn't really -- in the second half, really develop any the kind of rhythm. We've seen him get in good rhythm at the time in the past weeks. What do you think was not working?

SHANE STEICHEN: I think we started off -- we had a three and out to start the second half. They did some good things defensively. Credit to them, they're a really good defense. We did do a good job, decent job moving the ball and scoring points. But we got to score more. A lot more.

Q. You guys were able to cut the turnovers down this week. But it felt like the explosive passing plays weren't as much. So what is sort of the balance in getting both of those in one hand?

SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, that's a good question. I think sometimes you try to scheme up explosives and sometimes you hit them and sometimes you don't. And same thing in the run game, you create some explosives, you know, pop a big run, and make your guy miss. And that's how some of those are created. But we've got to do a good job creating those. And then, obviously, on the flip side, we got to stop them on the other side, giving up the explosives.

Q. I think you had just six rushes in the second half. I get it, the score was, at times, a two-score game. But you did have some success in the run game. The passing game was a little intermittent. Do you having any second thoughts on play selection at all there?

SHANE STEICHEN: No, I'll have to go back and look at that stuff. I'll always go and evaluate that stuff and go back and look at it.

Q. Can you take us through what you saw on Gardner making that big play -- (no microphone) -- was that just him creating --

SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, no, that was a scramble play. That was a huge play by him, too. We just had a four vertical concept going right there. He scrambled and Drew came across and back in the end zone. It was a heck of a play. Big-time play for those guys.

Q. What did you see on the interception?

SHANE STEICHEN: You know, it was just a double move right there and a guy came over and made a play. So...

Q. Was it a concerned effort to get Michael Pittman Jr. the ball earlier in the first six or seven yards of the game?

SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, I think with anything, we always try to get all our guys the ball. You know what I mean? Whether it's Michael Pittman or Josh Downs or Ogletree, the running backs. I think we're always going to get the ball to those guys and, you know, any time.

Q. Juwann seems like he's playing a lot right now. I know you've had some injuries there. But what has he done to sort of earn your guys' trust?

SHANE STEICHEN: He's a good route runner. He's explosive with the ball in his hands. And then obviously does a good job blocking. So he's got a good little mix there. But he's doing a great job with us.

Q. With the quarterback, is that a position where you can see pushing more changes if Anthony can't go?

SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, we'll evaluate everything.

Q. When you went for the fourth down that got the first touchdown, that was after you were looking to kick a field goal. How did that play out?

SHANE STEICHEN: Yeah, it was fourth and inches, one on the ball fast. And then said, Shoot, let's take the points in this situation. And then we got their offsides, and felt really good about the call there that we had. And, obviously, it worked out.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
138642-1-1839 2023-10-29 21:04:00 GMT

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