PLAYER NOTES
–LT Anthony Castonzo (hamstring) didn’t practice again Wednesday and if he is unable to make his season debut, expect Le’Raven Clark to make his second consecutive start as his replacement while Joe Haeg lines up at right tackle. Neither allowed a sack against the Redskins, whose outside rushers combined for only one quarterback hit. Haeg started at left tackle in the season opener.
–DE Margus Hunt is tied for the league lead with five tackles for losses. The former Cincinnati Bengals defender is a full-time starter for the first time in his second season with the Colts.
–QB Andrew Luck has thrown a touchdown pass in 25 consecutive starts, the league’s longest active streak.
–K Adam Vinatieri needs three field goals to tie Morten Andersen (565) for most in NFL history.
–The Colts had a league-high five rookie starters in Week 1 and 2.
–A lengthy injury report with eight players not practicing on Wednesday, in addition to LT Anthony Castonzo, also listed WR T.Y. Hilton (quadricep), Doyle (hip), RB Marlon Mack (foot/hamstring), DT/DE Denico Autry (ankle), S Clayton Geathers (knee/elbow), DT Hassan Ridgeway (calf) and CB Quincy Wilson (concussion). G/T Denzelle Good (knee/wrist) and CB Chris Milton (concussion) were also limited.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: LB Darius Leonard, the second-round selection who nicknames himself “Maniac,” won AFC Defensive Player of the Week after making 18 total tackles, including 15 solos, with one sack, one forced fumble and one pass breakup in Sunday’s win. He’s just the fourth Colts rookie to ever earn that honor. His tackle total is the most for a Colts rookie since 1994.
GAME PLAN: The same strategy that worked the week before will be tested against the reigning Super Bowl champions as the Colts will look to start fast with Reich’s quick-hit, scripted play-calling, then rely on a young defense to get enough stops. Luck won for just the fifth time last week when passing for fewer than 180 yards (179), and the quarterback will be required to do more against an Eagles defense that ranks No. 1 against the rush but 28th against the pass.
Tampa Bay’s Ryan Fitzpatrick exploited matchups in picking apart the Eagles secondary last week, so Luck will try to do the same. But if he’s to duplicate that production, he’ll have to take more shots down the field. So far, Luck has thrown mostly short-range passes, averaging a career-low 5.54 yards per completion. Look for the Colts to test the Eagles deep early and often, especially with speedy wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. The Colts defense will face a similar challenge from the return of Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who was outstanding in 13 games as a rookie before getting hurt last season, and is a strong-armed passer who likes to stretch the field with deeper throws. The onus is on the Colts’ pass rush to pressure Wentz into taking more underneath shots, as was the case with the Redskins’ Alex Smith, who was sacked three times and unable to lead his team to one touchdown drive.
QUOTES TO NOTE: “It’s something that we’re aware of. He knows obviously our structure offensively, what we try to do, how we attack things and maybe even some of the terminology and verbiage. So, we have to be careful there. At the same time, too, we can’t change everything. It’s not one of those deals because players still have to play the game and I have to coach this team and he has to coach his. There is some similarity, but at the same time we’re aware of it. We are looking forward to seeing him again on Sunday and welcoming him back to Philadelphia.” — Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, on facing Reich, his offensive coordinator the past two years.
“They’re strong up the spine. They are big guys up front. They all know how to play football. They’re smart and obviously they’re a successful unit – they won a Super Bowl together. It’s a tough, hard-nosed team. I think they were first in the league in run defense last year. I think they are up there, I think maybe first right now in the league in rush defense. We know we have our work cut out for us and I think also, too, our guys are excited for the challenge.” — Colts QB Andrew Luck, on facing Eagles defense.
“I say we are like on a roller coaster coming down hill, it’s kind of hard to stop. So I think the defense just kind of wants that snowball effect, just wants to keep stacking up everything and just want to match their effort from last week.” – Colts rookie LB Darius Leonard on defense following up on win at Washington.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Colts RT Joe Haeg vs. Eagles LDE Brandon Graham. Haeg, a former fifth-round pick in his third season, was solid at Washington in not allowing a sack against pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan. His next challenge is Graham, who led the Eagles with 9.5 sacks last season, but is still looking for his first this season.
–Eagles TE Zach Ertz vs. Colts LBs. Whoever has the defensive assignment on any given play will be in for a challenge. Ertz has a team-best 142 receiving yards and his 16 catches are tied with wide receiver Nelson Agholor for the team high. Despite missing two games last season, Ertz still led the Eagles with 74 catches for 824 yards. Eight of the sixth-year pro’s 21 career touchdowns came last year. Even if facing a linebacker in coverage, expect the Colts to shadow him over the top with a safety, most likely Clayton Geathers, whose physical toughness and coverage ability have been utilized in one-on-one coverage of tight ends.
