Colts vs. Titans: What's the Game Plan for Indianapolis?

Things haven’t exactly gone swimmingly in either of the Indianapolis Colts' first two games of the 2015 season. Hopes were high in Indianapolis, but after tough defeats at the hands of the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, things are starting to get desperate, even at this early stage in the season.

Andrew Luck needs to find the form that brought the team to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons, the offensive line needs to figure out its issues and the secondary has to stop getting hurt on a regular basis. But with health improving and motivation high, it seems like Week 3 is the perfect time for the Colts to jump-start their season.

Hitting the road to take on a Tennessee Titans team that still looks tough to figure out with Marcus Mariota under center, the Colts are ready for their first division game of the year in what could be a turning point already for 2015.

But will they continue to struggle, or will they claim their first victory of the season? Let’s take a look at what the team is planning heading into Sunday’s matchup.

Offensive Game Plan

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There has been a common theme on both sides of the ball through two games so far this season, with both the Bills and the Jets capable of taking advantage of some pretty glaring weaknesses for the Colts. But while the secondary issues are worrisome on defense, it is the offense’s inability to handle the blitz that has potential to really blow up in the team’s face.

Whether it be because of poor offensive line play, strong defensive scheming or any number of factors, Indianapolis has been abysmal against the blitz so far this season, with Luck spending more time with a player in his face than any quarterback should. It’s a problem that needs to be solved immediately if the Colts are going to turn the season around.

Fortunately for Indy, even if the Titans decide to bring pressure at a level consistent with the Jets and Bills, they shouldn’t be able to find nearly as much success with the added pressure.

The key should be getting Donte Moncrief, T.Y. Hilton and the receivers open as quickly as possible and getting the ball out of Luck’s hands before the pressure is able to impact the play. The Titans don’t have a strong secondary, and with the Colts' crop of receivers, the quarterback should have plenty of open options, even early in plays.

There is also the small matter of getting Frank Gore going—he was right up until he fumbled the ball on the goal line against New York—but the Colts should focus on playing to their strengths and using their talented receiving corps.

Defensive Game Plan

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Going back and looking at Mariota in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns, something is pretty obvious. Even when he isn’t playing all that well, he is a pretty good quarterback.

There were some turnover issues against the Browns that made things look a little uglier than they actually were in the end, and even if Mariota was partially to blame, he still played well when he was given the opportunity to do so. Cleveland just rushed out to such a substantial lead, and Tennessee kept shooting itself in the foot.

The thing to note is that even against a Cleveland run defense that, while improved, is still soft, the Titans didn’t have a great game on the ground beyond Dexter McCluster. Bishop Sankey averaged 3.5 yards per carry, and Terrance West averaged 3.3.

McCluster’s versatility and speed make him a dangerous threat, but the real focus should be on trying to shut down Mariota and the passing game. The Colts are still dealing with injuries in the secondary, but the return of Vontae Davis is huge and should give them the advantage in the position battle.

Selling out to stop Mariota and the passing game while letting the running game find mild success is the way to go for Indianapolis, which has found decent success stopping two straight running teams from getting things going on the ground.

Key Players and Matchups

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CB Jalil Brown

With Davis cleared to play after his concussion on Monday night, things have gotten substantially easier for fifth-year cornerback Jalil Brown. Instead of having to carry the unit against the Titans like he did against the Jets—a situation that didn’t go great—he can rely on his superstar to swamp one receiver while creative coverages help handle the others.

Davis will likely be matched up with Kendall Wright, nominally the No. 1 receiver for the Titans, which means Brown is going to be splitting time lined up across from Harry Douglas, Dorial Green-Beckham and Justin Hunter—all matchups that could possibly go in either direction and will go a long way toward deciding the game.

K Adam Vinatieri

Through a long career with the New England Patriots and Colts, Adam Vinatieri has established himself as one of the league’s best and most consistent kickers. In 2014, he didn’t miss a kick until Week 17 against the Titans in what was a relatively meaningless game.

But through two games this year, Vinatieri has looked incredibly mortal. Missing each of his first two attempts, the place-kicker's issues have been largely ignored because of the struggles of the rest of the offense, but they are very much there. Against the Titans, it will be a testing ground to see if the curtain is falling on one of the greatest careers in NFL history.

TE Coby Fleener

Coming into the league in the same draft class, it has been tough to separate the careers of Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener. But with Allen ruled out of Sunday's game, the team will turn to Fleener as its top option at tight end.

Although Allen only has three catches on six targets for 17 yards and a touchdown, all of which came against Buffalo in Week 1, the tight end is a big part of the Colts offense, and Fleener should see an increase in targets this week. What he does with them remains to be seen, but it is a chance for the fourth-year tight end to show his capability.

DE Henry Anderson

Where the Colts defensive backs have expectedly struggled because of depth issues, the defensive line has flourished in the face of injuries and turned into one of the most electric units on the team. The loss of Arthur Jones before the season was supposed to be a serious blow, but a pair of Stanford rookies have stepped in and taken the line to another level.

David Parry has been good, but the real standout has been Henry Anderson. With 14 tackles and a sack, he is in elite company tied with players like J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald for the most tackles among defensive linemen.

The Colts will call on the third-round end to help rein in the mobile Mariota and the speedy McCluster, and Anderson looks to be on the right track two games into his career.

Prediction

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This game comes down to the same things that haunted the Colts against the Jets and the Bills: How does the offense handle the blitz, and can the secondary find any form of success in shutting down receivers?

Odds are the game against Tennessee is going to go at least a little bit better for the Colts than in their first two outings. The Titans' weak secondary should make it easier for receivers to get separation, hopefully alleviating the blitz problem, while the depleted Indianapolis cornerbacks find themselves matched up with the weakest receiving outfit they have faced this season.

Unless Mariota is capable of pulling off another minor miracle like the one he did in Tampa Bay in Week 1, or if the Colts' struggles prove to be an internal problem rather than one caused by their opponents, it should be an easier time for Luck and company in Week 3.

Don’t be shocked if the Titans jump out to an early lead, resulting in more widespread panic, just for Luck to rally the team before the half and take control in the latter stages of the game.

Prediction: Colts 27, Titans 17