INDIANAPOLIS – The tip of the iceberg was Kenny Moore II sharing his concerns – his frustrations – with the media after another loss. A third straight loss.
One of the most respected and longest-tenured members of the Indianapolis Colts caused a local stir by questioning the work ethic and commitment of some of his teammates.
And nothing raises eyebrows more than a perennial team captain mentioning a lack of urgency and effort. That cuts to the bone.
Moore’s opinion was reinforced by linebacker Zaire Franklin, a five-year captain, and safety Julian Blackmon.
Tuesday, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley offered further support. Not necessarily for the gist of Moore’s emotional assessment following Sunday’s 30-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills that dropped the Colts to 4-6, but for the conviction it took to hold everyone accountable in such a public manner.
As Bradley was quick to point out, Moore’s post-game critique didn’t end after he exited the locker room. Monday, the prized cornerback and coordinator met.
“He immediately came in and talked to me and we had a visit,’’ Bradley said Tuesday. “I said, ‘Kenny, just stand by what you said. You believe it and it might be enough discomfort that it takes us to a better place, and then we move on.’ We had a good conversation. I said, ‘Now, there’s ways to go about doing it,’ but I don’t think he crossed the line.’’
Added All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, who’s also a multi-year team captain, weighed in.
“What Kenny said was real and it was on his heart,” Nelson said.
Monday included coach Shane Steichen addressing the issue(s) during a normal team meeting.
But Bradley made it clear the rare occasion of Moore holding unnamed teammates accountable at his locker after a loss gave everyone a glimpse of why he’s considered one of the unquestioned leaders on defense and throughout the locker room.
He isn’t afraid to make things uncomfortable when necessary. Bradley has witnessed that trait for the past three years.
“Have great trust in him,’’ Bradley said. “And what you saw, Kenny will address players. He holds them accountable. He loves his teammates. He loves this organization, but he also knows that to go where you want to go, at times there’s discomfort. He’s addressed some things with our players and brought some things up. I think that’s what he believes in. Sometimes, in order for us to go, there’s going to be challenging conversations and there’s going to be uncomfortable situations. But through that, it can take us to better places.’’
Coaches seldom criticize players in public. That includes the head coach, coordinators and position coaches. Players rarely point fingers.
That’s what needs to happen, and does happen, during the week.
Bradley mentioned the day after a game – win or lose – is “our to-tell-the-truth Monday.’’’
Accountability is front and center.
“‘This isn’t good enough. I’ll tell you why we’re not as successful as we need to be,’’’ Bradley said. “And (Moore will) point it out and lay it out for the whole team and the coaching staff to see and it gives us great direction where we have to move from that point on.’’
Defensive meetings run the gamut.
The good points are highlighted.
Let’s continue to do these good things. We’re building on this. Hey, we’re getting turnovers. Continue that mindset of getting the ball.
And the deficiencies aren’t glossed over.
Hey, we’re giving up these explosive plays.
Internally, bluntness and constructive criticism are part of the process.
“An example would be, ‘Hey, Zaire Franklin, I love you, but 44’s not good enough right here,’’’ Bradley said. “And I think that takes the personalization out of it. I love Zaire Franklin, 44, we need better from you. 96 (Taven Bryan), we need better from you right here. This isn’t good enough 23 (Moore). We know there’s a standard, and that’s it. And then when you walk out of the meeting, ‘Hey, Kenny, let’s go get better.’ You want to make sure there’s a difference between a challenge and an attack. A challenge is about getting it right and (an) attack is about who’s right. When you personalize it, sometimes it can be more of an attack and you don’t get much better from that.’’
Peer-to-peer accountability, Bradley added, is one of the strongest teaching tools.
“That’s somewhat what Kenny was doing . . . more the peer-to-peer accountability. . . maybe he’s done it face-to-face, maybe he’s done it in the unit meeting,’’ he said. “It was an opportunity to demonstrate to the team, ‘I’ll say it to your face or I’ll say it on a Sunday after a game.’ As long as the unit takes it more as a challenge, and they know where Kenny’s heart is, and I believe that’s how they’re going to take it. In conversations with Kenny, that’s where it was coming from.’’
The art of vagueness
In the aftermath of Shane Steichen’s decision to bench Anthony Richardson after the week 8 loss at Houston and turn to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, it’s been nearly impossible to ascertain the specifics behind getting away from the 22-year-old considered the future of the franchise and putting the immediate future in the hands of a 39-year-old backup.
Steichen continually mentions Richardson is going through the “process.’’ The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft is running the scout team and doing as much as possible to prepare himself in case he’s needed on game day, or at some point in the next two months.
“It’s just consistent with the process, that’s what it is,’’ Steichen said Monday. “You’ve got to go through the process every single day and that’s where it’s at. He’s a great person, a phenomenal human being. Like I said, not ever losing faith or trust in him. We’re going through the process right now and that’s where it’s at.’’
During Tuesday’s Zoom meeting with the media, offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter was asked about the “process.’’
He spoke in generalities. He talked about the daily routine, the walkthroughs, the practices, focusing on third-down situations or how to handle whatever blitz the upcoming opponent might use, and maintaining consistency.
“So, he’s working through that,’’ Cooter said. “He’s working hard.’’
It was mentioned to Cooter the Richardson-related answers to the media have been vague. And he was asked if internally everyone is less vague with Richardson and if it’s clear to Richardson what’s expected of him.
“I think it’s more in our interest to be less vague with him and a little more vague with you guys,’’ Cooter said. “I don’t always love coaching guys through the media. I like to coach them for real. We’re trying to communicate like crazy. We’re teachers and thus we’re communicators at our core. That’s what we do as coaches. . . . We’re making sure that we have a good plan for that so . . . that process is getting more consistent as these weeks go and Anthony and all our guys have a clear view of what that is and what that maybe can be, to be a little bit better. But, yeah, vagueness is a key sometimes sitting in front of this big screen TV here with the microphone, but the opposite is a little bit better with the players.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.