The 2022 NFL season did not go as planned for the Indianapolis Colts. They had high hopes that newly acquired quarterback Matt Ryan would find new life in Indy. That wasn’t the case as Ryan struggled through much of the season and was eventually benched. There is now a new quarterback and head coach running the show for the Colts. Will that lead to success next season? Let’s find out below with a preview and record prediction for the 2023-2024 season.
The Good
Although raw, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson showed in college he can be an unstoppable force. The 6’4″ Richardson is built like Cam Newton but is more explosive. There were questions on how long it would take Richardson to adjust to the NFL after just 13 starts for the Gators. The Colts have seen enough to believe he is ready now and named him the starter going forward. I like the aggressive move as Richardson needs all the reps and new head coach Shane Steichen will devise a gameplan for him to succeed.
Speaking of Steichen, I was a big fan of this hire for Indianapolis. Steichen elevated Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to one of the most dangerous weapons in the league. He used the RPO offense to perfection to keep opposing defenses off balance. This formula propelled the Eagles all the way to the Super Bowl before they eventually lost to the Chiefs. Expect Steichen to once again work his magic on Richardson and make him a successful dual-threat quarterback.
The Bad
All summer long the running back position has dominated the headlines. There is a disconnect between how much running backs think they’re worth versus how valuable the league sees them. Regardless of your stance, one can’t argue the value of Jonathan Taylor. In 2021, Taylor was the league leader in scrimmage yards (2171) and total touchdowns (20). While injuries cut his 2022 season to just 11 games he was still able to rack up over 1,000 all purpose yards.
Despite all that the Colts are unwilling to pay him and he has since requested a trade. This is not what the Colts need as they are trying to change the culture and start a new era. If they do trade Taylor it will only hurt the development of Richardson going forward.
The Prediction
There will be ups and downs this season for the Colts as they look to develop their young quarterback. Richardson will no doubt make highlight reel plays but also plenty of mistakes. It’s important for the Colts staff to be patient as he develops and they will reap the rewards in the future.
2023 Record: 7-10 (3rd in the Division)
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