Forget Richardson’s Accuracy, Colts Have Much Bigger Issues

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For all the handwringing about Anthony Richardson and his accuracy both before and after he went 11-of-28 for 172 yards in a loss to the Lions, it isn’t the Colts biggest issue. 

Sure, he missed a few passes, most notably a shot to Alec Pierce where Pierce was wide open and again had extended periods of inconsistency. But he also made several explosive plays, only to see many of them get called back due to penalty, or just outright missed when his intended target either dropped a surefire touchdown (Drew Ogletree) or failed to keep their feet inbounds on a deep throw (Ashton Dulin). 

Against the Lions, the Colts just could not get out of their own way. The battered offensive line struggled mightily against the Lions, with Richardson facing pressure on 46.7% of his dropbacks. As mentioned previously, they also found a penchant for committing holding penalties that negated big plays, forcing the offense to play from behind the chains and killing drives cold. They also could generate no push in the traditional running game, leading Jonathan Taylor to finish with a paltry 35 yards on 11 carries. 

Then there’s the Colts tight end group, and what a mess it is. It’s the Colts weakest group by far and represents a considerable fall from grace for that position, as Joel A Erickson of the IndyStar pointed out. 

These are all glaring issues for the Colts, but ultimately, they aren’t what’s most concerning if you’re a member of the organization. That would the growing apathy towards this team from the fanbase. It was evident on Sunday, when Lucas Oil was, at best, split 5-50 between Colts and Lions fans. That changed throughout the course of the game, as the opposing team took over both on the field and in the stands, as chants of “Jared Goff” echoed throughout the stadium. 

Honestly, it’s hard to blame fans for checking out early, both for the game and the season. They desperately want to cheer for a winner, and the Colts haven’t been that consistently for at least a decade. Why waste your money going to games when you can sell the tickets, pocket the money and watch them lose (often times in the most infuriating ways possible) from the comfort of your own home?  

The fans made their thoughts know about the state of the franchise yesterday by their absence on Sunday. Was the message received? It’s anyone’s guess. 

During the Monday edition of The Ride With JMV, John spoke to Stephen Holder of ESPN about the Colts loss to the Lions, and where they go from here. Listen to that conversation down below, and tune into The Ride With JMV weekdays from 3-6pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan!