With these two in place, Colts find needed sense of direction

Colts gain needed sense of direction with Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson in place.

The Indianapolis Colts have found their head coach, and they feel Anthony Richardson is their quarterback of the future.

The Indianapolis Colts believe again after finishing 9-8 in 2023. Their organization has found a much-needed sense of direction for the first time in recent seasons.

It all starts with rookie head coach Shane Steichen, who, despite a number of key player injuries, including rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor, helped Indianapolis finish 11th in total scoring offense and find new and creative ways to tailor his style of play calling by incorporating as many players as possible.

Both Taylor and Richardson missed time this season due to injuries, with Richardson missing one game due to a concussion he sustained in Week 2 against the Houston Texans and suffering a season-ending AC joint injury in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans, and Taylor dealing with an ankle injury that caused him to miss the first four games of the season, as well as a thumb injury that kept him out for two more games, for a total of six.

Taylor and Richardson only shared one snap together during the regular season, with running back Zack Moss and quarterback Gardner Minshew filling in at various occasions. Several key offensive linemen lost time this season, including left tackle Bernhard Raimann, center Ryan Kelly, and right tackle Braden Smith. So did rookie wide receiver Josh Downs and starting wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

Despite a 3-5 start and Steichen being the primary factor behind quite the turnaround from just a season ago, the Colts kept finding ways to be in the heart of the AFC playoff chase.

Let us recall where the Colts were just one season ago. The team was 4-12-1 and coming off one of the organization’s worst seasons in a long time, with former head coach Frank Reich sacked after an uninspiring performance in Foxborough against the New England Patriots, the first in franchise history to be fired in-season. Indianapolis finished the 2022 season with interim head coach Jeff Saturday, only to lose several more games, including the greatest regular-season comeback in NFL history to the Minnesota Vikings, a game Indianapolis led 33-0 at one point before losing in overtime, 39-36.

Following Andrew Luck’s retirement, the team went through a number of quarterback changes, including veterans Jacoby Brissett (2019), Philip Rivers (2020), Carson Wentz (2021), and Matt Ryan (2022). It wasn’t until the 2022 season that everything came to a standstill. Their systems had, in part, failed them over time, and the Colts as a franchise lacked a clear sense of direction.

That was, until Steichen and Richardson arrived. Steichen had arrived following the Kansas City Chiefs’ 38-35 loss in Super Bowl 57. The former Eagles offensive coordinator was “dialed in,” as Colts general manager Chris Ballard described his first-year head coach. It didn’t take long for others outside of the NFL to take notice.

“I’ve dialed in. Always tuned in. It’s all ball…He never lacks confidence or has any doubts about what he’s doing. And he sees the broader picture,” Ballard stated at the conclusion of the season press conference on Thursday. “He’s a tremendous problem-solver, and he’s extremely demanding, not only of players but also of staff, of all of us.”

The same can be said for rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was chosen fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite the fact that many thought he was more of a project coming out of the University of Florida, the 21-year-old quarterback showed instant promise with his dual-threat ability while still growing as a thrower.

Early returns on Richardson were quite promising, with the rookie signal-caller scoring seven total touchdowns (three passing, four rushing) and throwing for 577 yards with only three turnovers (one interception, two fumbles) in just under 200 offensive possessions.

Ballard lauded his rookie quarterback’s potential qualities while emphasizing that Richardson still had work to do to get back healthy and improve.

“We are encouraged by what we witnessed. You haven’t stamped him yet. We have a lot of work to do, and he has a lot of work to do as well. “However, it’s encouraging,” Ballard remarked. “He’ll work hard and is very talented.” I feel this man is a legitimate passer. I believe he will continue to grow and improve as he plays more. Anthony is capable of playing from the pocket and throwing the ball accurately.”

Without a doubt, Indianapolis will have work to do this offseason. However, they have some legitimate offensive weapons. Josh Downs set a franchise record with 66 receptions as a rookie, surpassing Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison and Bill Brooks. Michael Pittman Jr., a free agent this summer, enjoyed his greatest season as a professional. Pittman Jr. had career highs in multiple categories, including receptions (109), receiving yards (1,152), and touchdowns (4). Jonathan Taylor, meanwhile, was back to his former self for much of the season, gaining 741 yards on 169 attempts (4.4 yards per attempt) and scoring seven times.

There is a lot to like about the Colts’ defense as well. Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo, both defensive ends, made huge strides in 2023, setting career highs in sacks with 8.5 and 8.0, respectively. Julian Blackmon, a free agent this offseason, set a career best with four interceptions to go along with 65 solo tackles and eight pass deflections. Linebackers Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed were also important contributors to the Colts’ defensive performance this season, with Franklin breaking his own franchise mark for tackles in a single season with 179. These are just a few of the rising stars on the Indianapolis defense in 2024.

Indianapolis also reestablished themselves on the offensive line, with guard Quenton Nelson making his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance and center Ryan Kelly and right tackle Brad Smith bouncing back from injuries. Left tackle Bernhard Raimann made significant strides in Year 2 toward becoming the Colts’ future left tackle, a critical piece for Richardson’s growth moving forward.

Without a doubt, their roster is still quite young. To be specific, he is one of the NFL’s youngest players. But that didn’t stop the Colts from having a successful season.

For the first time in a long time, the Colts have a revitalized sense of hope and a path where they feel they can build on the triumphs of the 2023 season, thanks to one of the league’s top offensive brains in Steichen and a promising rookie quarterback in Richardson. Their efforts begin in the offseason, as the franchise prepares to compete for an AFC South division title in the future.

“We should legitimately be competing for the division and playoffs,” Ballard went on to say. “That’s what we’re expecting. That is our expectation every year, but I believe it is realistically achievable in the future.”