Indianapolis Colts: Ted Monachino Says Pagano Must Trust Defense
Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Ted Monachino commented on head coach Chuck Pagano’s trust in the defense. The defense gave up a game-winning field goal to Matt Prater as the Detroit Lions’ offense marched 50 yards in 25 seconds last Sunday.
The Indianapolis Colts opened up their 2016 season with a loss last Sunday, falling 39-35 to the Detroit Lions.
The loss could have arguably been prevented had the Colts’ defense not have been so banged up from injuries. They were without multiple starters on the defensive side of the ball last Sunday against Detroit.
To name a few, the defense was short of Vontae Davis, Henry Anderson and Arthur Jones. To make matters worse, some of the backups to starters even became injured — leading to a few players whom not many have heard of to take the field.
Early Friday morning, defensive coordinator Ted Monachino commented on Pagano’s trust in the defense, per Mike Wells of ESPN.com.
"“Pagano absolutely has to be able to trust us with 37 seconds left in the game to win a game,” Monachino said. “We weren’t able to hold up our end of the deal. We did not finish or start the way we needed to finish and start.”“You feel awful as you come off that one,” Monachino said. “There were opportunities throughout the game, with the missed tackles, if we can just staple a ball carrier to the ground every now and then in a huge down and we have guys that are unblocked at the ball, we have to be able to make those plays. Those situations will come up every down.”"
In Pagano’s defense, it is hard to trust a defense that gives up 448 total yards to a sub-par Lions defense — especially when the same defense is missing some of their best players.
Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski commented on the mentality that the offense will have to score a high amount of points every game and carry the defense if the Colts want to win on a weekly basis.
“I think it’s dangerous to do that,” Chudzinski said. “You have to play the game and you have to execute the things that you have up in the game plan. Sometimes score might dictate it being different. But beyond that, once you’re in the game, besides the score it’s how things are working, what adjustments you’re making based on how things are working and how we’re executing.”
If the Colts wish to earn a victory against the Denver Broncos this coming Sunday, the defense will have to play its part in containing the Broncos’ offense.
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Things don’t get easier for the Colts heading into their next matchup, as the Broncos boast one of the best defenses in the entire league.
The Colts travel to Mile High Stadium to take on the Broncos Sunday, Sep. 18 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
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