This week went no different than previous ones.
When this week’s practices began, the Indianapolis Colts were embroiled in a quarterback crisis. Fans couldn’t stop talking about it, and with good cause.
To be fair, Anthony Richardson, a second-year pro, played a significant role in this situation blowing out. Most of us are aware of Richardson’s decision to leave the game on third-and-goal last Sunday because he was “tired.”
Aside from Richardson’s stunt, his performance so far this season has been inconsistent. But was Richardson really the problem? After all, his experience limits him and he still has a long way to go in terms of development. The Colts knew this when they drafted him.
Still, head coach Shane Steichen decided to bench Richardson for the team’s Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings. The prime time duel on Sunday Night Football merely confirmed what many Colts supporters have suspected all along.
By halftime, fans were making mockery of Steichen’s decision to start Flacco. It was not pretty. The offense had yet to score and appeared to be stagnant, which came as no surprise.
By the time the clock ran out in the fourth quarter, the Colts had produced season lows in several categories including points (6), red zone drives (zero), first downs (13), yards (227), EPA/play (0.35) and rushing yards (68).
Yet, after the game — the Colts did, indeed, lose by the way — Steichen remained committed to Flacco as the team’s starting quarterback, reiterating that this isn’t just an experiment.
Shane Steichen remains tone deaf when it comes to his offense’s ineptitude
Fans were particularly outraged near the end of the game, when the Colts faced a fourth-and-two with the game on the line. Jonathan Taylor, a running back, was not on the field. The offense ran a slant to Ashton Dulin with no chance of completing the pass.
When questioned why Trey Sermon was in the game instead of Taylor, Steichen responded:
“We believe and trust Trey when he needs to go in there. He also did some running in there. So that is where it was.
In their last four games, the Colts have yet to score more than 20 points as a team, including defensive scores. Steichen’s incompetence persists, and supporters are fed up with the same old issues.
Whether it’s play calling or misusing people, Steichen has given us reason to assume his time in Indianapolis is coming to an end. Whether you agree or disagree with his handling of the quarterback situation, Steichen should have been fired by now.
Things do not get easier from here on out. The Colts will play two of their next three games against the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions, with the New York Jets in between.
