Quick Look - SML Observations

by fieldgeneral007 | 5 years ago | 0 Comments

Have you wondered why certain owners are struggling either this season or this cycle more than before? Perhaps you are one of these owners. While there is not a simple answer for every team there are several common factors. I will spotlight one team, Prime's Colts.

15x SML Champ. The GOAT. The Colts are currently sitting at 3-6 this season. A playoff birth is highly unlikely. Prime is coming off of another Super Bowl win. How could Prime go from the best to mediocre after one season?

Prime is known for a bend but don't break style of defense that is propelled by his uncanny user LB ability. However, the Colts are not a very good defensive team right now. Prime is allowing 32 pts per game (30), 343 yards (30th), 212.1 passing yards (26th), and 130.9 rushing yards (29th). None of these stats are impressive or typical of Prime. The question we have to ask is what has changed?

If you take a look at the last game Prime and I just played he has appeared to have made a major fundamental change in his play style. Prime has been on record saying he calls what plays he has always called and he will beat you with them. Nearly every first down in our game Prime called Cover 4. Not a bad defense at all but strange for him to call that nearly every 1st down. To compound this Prime also made several presnap shifts. This behavior is also new to Prime. My guess he wanted to sellout to stop to the run. 

The Colts have 23 team sacks on the season which is pretty on par with the majority of the league. The Colts have only forced 20 turnovers this season. 13 ints and 7 fumbles. 

I'd have to go back and study the rest of Prime's games to know if this change in defensive strategy is a fluke or a season long occurrence. If this is a game to game decision I think Prime needs to go back to his championship winning game plan. 

Prime is still a top 10 offense but these numbers have also slipped. His running game is 93 yds (16th), 27 ppg (10th) 309.4 ypg (11th) 215.9 and pypg (6th). All solid numbers but Prime has typically been top 5.

Prime has went to a new runningback and is doing a fantastic job 770 yds and 8 tds. Luck is 67.2%, 19 tds, 13 ints, and 28 sacks. High sack numbers are common for Prime. He likes to hold the ball and hit the deep shot. His td int ratio is much closer than usual. Over the past few seasons Parris Campbell has become Prime's favorite target. Campbell leads the colts with 30 rec, 729 yds, and 8 tds. Tarrant is the next with 25 rec, 411 yds, and 4 tds. 

I feel the lack of turnovers being forced on defense is the biggest factor for the Colts this season. Less opportunities decreases everything. Prime needs to figure out his defensive woes. The offense could be helped by getting Hilton more involved who is having a poor season with 14 rec, 249 yds, and 3 tds. 

Can Prime get back to, "creating your own animations." Time will tell. I forsee the Colts on finishing this season strong. The ultimate test will be the rematch against Dump. Dump thumped Prime week 1 and Prime has yet to recover. Let me know if you want to see more content like this! Thanks for checking it out! Have a great day!