Steichen’s new system gets Colts on the…

Steichen’s innovative approach has the Colts on the verge of the AFC playoffs in his first season as head coach.

Shane Steichen, the Indianapolis Colts’ first-year coach, was chosen to steer the team in a new direction.

He wasted little time in hiring players’ trusted assistants, implementing an approach they could embrace, and ensuring his rookie quarterback mastered the playbook while pressing the backup to stay prepared.

They’re now on the verge of the playoffs because Steichen never saw his first head coaching position as a rebuilding endeavor. He was confident from the outset, and the players believed him.

“Shane made it clear that the expectations were very high,” said center Ryan Kelly. “Execution feeds emotion, and we’ve had a great time doing it.” I believe you’ve seen that in the postgame (videos), all of his interviews, and the way we play. It’s a combination of all of those things, as well as a firm belief that we can achieve whatever we set our minds to.”

Surprisingly, they could be playoff bound following Saturday.

The Colts (9-7) would complete a season sweep of Houston (9-7) and make their first postseason participation since 2020 with a fourth straight home victory. A win, combined with a defeat by Jacksonville at Tennessee on Sunday, would give Indianapolis its first AFC South title and first home playoff game since 2014, as well as a chance to win its first postseason game in five years.

Few expected this kind of recovery following a terrible 2022 season that included a continually revolving quarterback carousel, an unusual midseason coaching change, and seven straight losses to end 4-12-1.

“I think all of the ups and downs we had last year prepared us for the highs and lows of this season,” said linebacker Zaire Franklin. “I just think that every time something happened, we just came closer together.”

There were numerous occasions when Indy’s season could have been ruined, but Steichen expertly negotiated the ups and downs.

Jonathan Taylor, the 2021 All-Pro running back, missed seven games due to injury, began the season mired in an unpleasant contract dispute, and took only one official snap with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Right tackle Braden Smith missed seven games due to various ailments, Kelly was sent in the concussion protocol twice, and top receiver Michael Pittman Jr. also suffered a concussion after taking a heavy hit that resulted in a season-ending suspension for Pittsburgh defender Damontae Kazee.

Seven players were suspended.

There was also the quarterback problem to consider. Steichen chose Richardson as the opening-day starter after just one preseason game, which disappointed Gardner Minshew, who had followed Steichen from Philadelphia to fight for the job.

Minshew didn’t take long to prove himself.

In three of Indy’s first four games, he relieved an ailing Richardson, won his first start at Baltimore, and took over for good when Richardson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5.

Even after committing eight turnovers in Indy’s following three games, all defeats, Minshew and Steichen remained unfazed.

“He always gives us a chance to win, and that’s what you want in your quarterback,” Steichen said of Minshew this week. “Every time you step out, the players have a belief in him, the coaches have a belief in him and I think that’s where it starts.”

Minshew repaid their patience with four straight victories, lifting the Colts out of the division abyss and back into the postseason hunt. Given the young roster, Minshew’s postseason experience with Steichen and the Eagles the previous two seasons allowed him to take on a more outspoken late-season role.

Minshew spoke up about playing with intensity after the Colts came out flat for the second game in three weeks, a Week 16 loss at Atlanta. Steichen echoed Minshew’s statement both before and after the Colts’ win against Las Vegas last week, which put them in this win-and-in situation.

“I think his energy and confidence really come through,” she remarked. “He was pumped up for this game. He was pumped up before the game in the locker room. “I think everyone fed off of that, and I think it showed on the field.”

Steichen is now in line to become the seventh consecutive first-year, non-interim Colts coach to guide the team to the playoffs.

Tony Dungy kicked off the streak with a four-win improvement in 2002. Following Dungy’s retirement, Jim Caldwell won 14 games in 2009. In 2012, Chuck Pagano oversaw a nine-win turnaround.

If the Colts win on Saturday, Steichen will match Frank Reich’s six-win improvement from last season, and no one in this locker room thinks they can complete the job.

“The message from Shane is it’s a big game, but it’s obviously the next game, right?” Kelly stated. “So trust what we do, do the small things we’ve done all week, do them better than we’ve ever done them and trust what we do Saturday night.”