Colts Have a Cornerback Problem, and Likely Will the Rest of 2023

The secondary of the Indianapolis Colts was torched by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, showing what might be a sign of things to come.

If you didn't know any better, you would have thought "The Greatest Show on Turf" was back and playing on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.

A pair of quarterbacks threw to a plethora of receivers for 354 yards. The team also racked up a total of 161 yards rushing. Up and down the field they went, for a total of 511 yards of offense.

But it was not the St. Louis Rams of the late 1990s. It was the 2023 New Orleans Saints, dominating in whatever way they wanted against a porous Indianapolis Colts defense.

The Colts dropped their third straight game to the tune of a 38-27 beatdown by the Saints. The Colts continued to be the only team in the NFL to score over 20 points in every game this season. However, Sunday was the third straight game the Colts' defense surrendered 30 or more points.

“Defensively, we didn’t get it done," DeForest Buckner said after the game. "Obviously, it’s a team sport and we got to play better complimentary football, the offense is scoring points. I mean 27 points is enough points for us to come out with a win. In crunch time moments, we have to be on our details, be in our fits. We, defensively, didn’t get it done today.”

For Buckner's part, he was one of the few Colts defenders that had a positive impact. With three tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble, Buckner did his best to make life difficult for Derek Carr and the Saints offense. However, Buckner cannot play every position on defense.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) catches a long pass in front of Indianapolis Colts cornerback Tony Brown (38) during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest struggle for the Colts defense was at the cornerback spot. Already down Dallis Flowers for the season with a torn Achilles, the Indy secondary was without second-round pick JuJu Brents with a quad injury. The injuries left rookie Jaylon Jones and special teams ace Tony Brown as the starters on the outside with Kenny Moore II.

Moore has seen a resurgence in 2023 and is back to his Pro Bowl form. The Colts' top cornerback continued that play on Sunday with seven tackles, making plays all over the field. Moore was not the issue on Sunday and has not been all year.

The Saints instead decided to pick on Brown. Numerous times on Sunday, Carr threw it to the receiver Brown was responsible for, seemingly having success each time. First down after first down was picked up by the Saints as Brown struggled to cover anyone in a white jersey.

The player who gave Brown the most trouble was wide receiver Rashid Shaheed. Shaheed finished the day with three catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. Brown was responsible for giving up 109 yards and the touchdown to Shaheed.

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To say it was a rough afternoon for Brown would be putting it lightly. His normal role on defense is the backup nickel position, coming in if Moore goes down to injury. Other than that, the cornerback only sees the field on special teams. But because of injuries and a lack of quality depth at the cornerback position, Brown was out there in a spot he clearly could not handle.

The Colts have been playing with fire at the cornerback position since the spring. Injuries are a part of the game and cannot be faulted. However, fault can be placed on the front office for how they addressed the position and the coaching staff for not putting players in positions to succeed.

The Colts traded their best cornerback from 2022, Stephon Gilmore, to the Dallas Cowboys as the veteran wanted to play with a competitor. The Colts responded by drafting three cornerbacks in the draft rather than signing a veteran free agent.

A month after the draft, the Colts released Isaiah Rodgers Sr. after the cornerback was suspended for the season due to gambling. General manager Chris Ballard still did not make a move. The Colts elected instead to stick with their young crop of cornerbacks despite plenty of quality free agents available.

After training camp, the Colts cut rookie fifth-round cornerback Darius Rush after a rocky preseason. Rush gave up some plays but showed the ball skills that made him enticing as a prospect. But Indy decided to move on.

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones (40) moves in on New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) as he carries the ball Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis :: © Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

The coaching staff deserves criticism for how this situation has been handled as well. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and defensive backs coach Ron Milus put Brown in a position he should not have been in. Brown never looked comfortable out there, resulting in an embarrassing performance.

“We felt good about Tony going into the game," head coach Shane Steichen admitted. "So, that was the decision that was made.”

The alternative to Brown was Darrell Baker Jr., who has also struggled in recent weeks. While it may not have been ideal, Baker has at least played on the outside this season and showed promise in the preseason. Other options included moving Moore to the outside and putting one of Brown, Nick Cross, or Julian Blackmon in the slot. Yet no adjustments were made by the Colts' defensive coaches.

As the Colts now sit at 3-5, they may have to lay in the bed they have made. Injuries are piling up at the cornerback position, and few options remain.

Flowers is out for the year. Brents has played well when on the field, but there is no guarantee when he will be healthy enough to return. Jones has held his own as a rookie, but Brown and Baker have been major disappointments.

There was always a chance that the gamble at cornerback would come back to bite the Colts. Halfway through the season, everyone's worst fears are starting to come true. The failure to address the cornerback position in the offseason and make the correct adjustments has become a lowlight of the 2023 season.

Unfortunately for Colts fans, a fix to this issue may not be in the cards until after the year is over.

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