JUST IN: Indianapolis Colts Received Yet Again Another Heart-Breaking News On Gus Bradley

If the Indianapolis Colts’ defense does not get better, this might be Gus Bradley’s final season as coordinator for the team.

The Indianapolis Colts’ defense has faced significant challenges this season, leading to heavy criticism of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. If the defense fails to improve, this could potentially mark Bradley’s final season with the Colts.

Since Bradley’s arrival in 2022, the team’s defensive performance has deteriorated, dropping from 15th in his first year to 24th in 2023, and now sitting at the bottom this season.

 

 

Despite these difficulties, head coach Shane Steichen continues to support Bradley, stating on colts.com, “Gus has been doing this for a long time and he’s had incredible defenses where he’s been. I have faith and trust in him to turn this around.”

While there is potential for improvement, if Bradley does not succeed, he may face dismissal either this season or in the offseason.

Will This Be Gus Bradley’s Last Season with the Colts?

Indy’s Defense Has Been Horrible

The 2-3 Colts currently have one of the weakest defenses in the NFL, ranking near the bottom in several categories. They are last in yards allowed per game (419.2), 31st in run defense (157.0 yards per game), and 29th in pass defense (262.2 yards per game). Additionally, they rank 25th in scoring, giving up an average of 24.4 points per game.

Indianapolis began the season with an 0-2 record, with Joe Mixon of the Houston Texans rushing for 159 yards in Week 1 and Josh Jacobs running for 151 yards during the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Although the Colts managed to win their next two games, their defense struggled against quarterbacks in both matchups. Chicago Bears rookie Caleb Williams threw for a career-high 363 yards in Week 3, followed by Pittsburgh Steelers’ Justin Fields, who also set a career record with 367 yards the next week.

In Week 5, the Colts faced off against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were seeking their first win of the season. Despite being without Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor, Indy had a chance to win the game. However, Trevor Lawrence lit up the Colts’ defense with a career-high 371 passing yards, while Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. added 122 yards, including an impressive 85-yard touchdown catch.

Injuries and Personnel Questions

Gus Bradley has faced criticism for the Colts’ poor defense, but injuries have also contributed to the team’s difficulties this season. Samson Ebukam and JuJu Brents are not expected to return until next year. Ebukam led the Colts with 9.5 sacks last season, and Brents has the potential to become a standout cornerback if he can stay healthy. Key defensive players like DeForest Buckner, Kenny Moore II, and Kwity Paye have also missed games this year, making it hard to secure victories without their presence.

Personnel choices have impacted the situation as well. It was widely recognized that the secondary was one of the Colts’ major weaknesses last year, yet general manager Chris Ballard did little to improve it during the offseason. Rather than bringing in veteran free agents, he opted to rely on his young, inexperienced players, which has proven to be a poor choice, as they continue to be exploited week after week.

While it’s not impossible for Bradley to improve the situation, it will be quite challenging to achieve.