Noah ComptonAug 16, 2026
After watching the Colts' eleventh training camp practice, Compton says rookie linebacker CJ Allen is still expected to start the regular-season opener, identifies Alec Pierce as the team's top receiver and Cam Taylor-Britt as the first cornerback behind the starting trio, and declares the kicking job Blake Grupe's to lose.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Noah Compton said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromAt this point, it's Grupe's job to lose.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Biggest Takeaways From Day 12 of Colts Training Camp: Defense Shuts Down Passing Attack
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 16
- PlayedSep 13
- GradedSep 17
- 1C.J. Allen to be 1st on the depth chart“The rookie linebacker is still expected to start in Week 1's regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens”
- 2Cam Taylor-Britt to be 4th on the depth chart“Veteran newcomer Cam Taylor-Britt has proven to be the next man up outside of the Colts' starting trio of Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr., and Justin Walley”
- 3Blake Grupe to be 1st on the depth chart“Blake Grupe continues to separate in practice... At this point, it's Grupe's job to lose.”
- 4Alec Pierce to be 1st on the depth chart“Alec Pierce : Indy's WR1 put on cleats and was a minimal participant for the first time this offseason”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Allen to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | 0 | 100 | −200 | |
| Cam Taylor-Britt to be 4th on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Blake Grupe to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Alec Pierce to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 1 miss · 3 waiting | 0 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naiveworse than naive4 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 0 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Alec Pierce · 2026 season10 calls from 10 pundits between 1 and 4. Noah Compton said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
1Depth Chart CallsC.J. AllenIndianapolis Colts
C.J. Allen to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictMiss0Miss · naive 1000this call−100a naive guess=−100worse than naive×2difficulty=−200skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- IND
- week:
- 1
- skill:
- −200
- player:
- C.J. Allen
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he starts
- accuracy:
- 0
- baseline:
- 100
- reported:
- he did not play that week
- settled by:
- weekly snap counts (he took no snap in the game)
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- no prior season — a rookie is assumed to start behind the incumbent
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks left when called:
- 18
2Depth Chart CallsCam Taylor-BrittIndianapolis Colts
Cam Taylor-Britt to be 4th on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsBlake GrupeIndianapolis Colts
Blake Grupe to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsAlec PierceIndianapolis Colts
Alec Pierce to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
The game in this take
every pundit’s pick on eachWho this take is about
Others on the same people
Chris Long · Game Outcome Picks · Indianapolis Colts · Miss 0
Previewing the Week 9 slate, Chris Long expects the Saints to beat Cleveland, the Colts to beat Dallas, New England to edge Green Bay, and Baltimore to beat the Chargers on Monday night. They also call the Packers a top-10 defense once Micah Parsons returns, names their top six quarterbacks of the season, and expects Brandon Ayuk to be released, with Will Lee and Trevion Henderson sidelined this week.Jesse Holley · Game Outcome Picks · Indianapolis Colts · Miss 0
Jesse predicted the Cowboys finish 10-7 but still win the NFC East with 10 wins, picking Dallas over the Giants, Commanders, Texans, Buccaneers, Colts (loss), and losing to Baltimore, Green Bay, Philadelphia twice, Arizona, Seattle and the Rams.Danny Parkins · Game Outcome Picks · Indianapolis Colts · Miss 0
Parkins predicted the Cowboys will finish 11-6, starting 5-1 with wins over the Giants, Commanders and an upset of the Ravens, splitting with Philadelphia, and beating Green Bay and Jacksonville, while losing to the Texans, 49ers, Eagles, Colts, Seahawks and Rams.Jake Arthur · Roster Spot Calls · Johnathan Edwards · Miss 0
Arthur predicted a lopsided Jaguars win over the Colts in Jacksonville, 31-13, continuing the Colts' losing streak there, while offering a 'bold' counter-prediction that Daniel Jones accounts for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).Drake Wally · Trade and Signing Calls · Quenton Nelson · Miss 0
Despite the midseason firing of GM Chris Ballard, Wally expects the Colts to avoid a fire sale, predicting that core stars such as DeForest Buckner, Sauce Gardner, Jonathan Taylor, Grover Stewart and Quenton Nelson will not be shopped before the trade deadline.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.