The Indianapolis Colts Are A Dysfunctional Team Right Now

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Joe Flacco completed his third start on Sunday night against the Vikings. Anthony Richardson has started six games for the Indianapolis Colts this season. Neither quarterback has been able to provide anyone with a sense of what the identity of this team is.

When Richardson was starting for Shane Steichen’s team, there was clearly an identity of running the football. Jonathan Taylor was one of the most effective running backs in the NFL. However, in every passing category, the Colts were in the bottom quartile.

In Flacco’s three starts, the identity of this Colts team is a team that wants to throw the ball. Jonathan Taylor’s yards per carry drops almost 1.5 yards per carry. Over the course of a game, that can range from 18 to 30 yards depending on the number of attempts for Taylor. The passing offense is still lackluster. Michael Pittman Jr. is clearly not healthy and not involved as much as last season no matter whom is throwing the football.

The defensive struggles are reaching levels of major concern. There have been numerous occasions this season where a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, or tight end has had a career day against the Colts. On Sunday night, Sam Darnold completed 82.4% of his passes, career high, and Justin Jefferson recorded a season high 127 receiving yards.

Minnesota drove into Indianapolis territory on NINE of their TEN offensive drives, eliminating the end of the game drive. The only drive they didn’t was when Darnold threw an interception right after Flacco. Of those nine drives, the Vikings converted at least two first downs on all of them.

Gus Bradley’s defense “only” gave up 21 points, but that was because of a red zone interception by Darnold and two missed field goals from Will Reichard. That is, at minimum, nine points the Vikings missed out on.

So what is the identity of this Colts team? There isn’t one. You cannot rely on the defense to force timely stops, the passing offense has been lackluster all season long, and the offense cannot sustain drives.

The best word to describe what the Colts are right now is dysfunctional and it starts at the top. If you know that you are hitting the reset button with a new quarterback, then a total house cleaning typically happens. Jim Irsay kept Chris Ballard around and hired Shane Steichen ahead of drafting Anthony Richardson fourth overall in 2023.

Indianapolis is just in a tough spot right now. Most of the players on the roster are in their primes and on their second contract. The biggest piece to all teams is either a 22-year-old quarterback that needs multiple seasons to develop, or a 39-year-old quarterback that is past his prime.

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