By: Mike Rifkin
The 2021 Indianapolis Colts ended their season with a bad taste in their mouth. The 2022 Colts never got the taste out. The Colts finished the season with a 4-12-1 record and were arguably the biggest disappointment in football. But with one of the major disappointments, hopefully, there were some realizations. Head Coach Frank Reich was fired during the season and was replaced by former Colts Center Jeff Saturday. The Colts announced hiring Shane Steichen to be their next head coach. Steichen was the Eagles’ Offensive Coordinator this past season.
Since Andrew Luck retired before the 2019 season, the Colts have placed band-aids at the quarterback position. A bandaid means that it’s a veteran quarterback who isn’t the long-term solution. They used Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz, and this past season traded for Matt Ryan from the Falcons. Ryan completed 67% of his passes and had 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. In 12 games played, Matt Ryan was sacked 38 times. Matt Ryan, Nick Foles, and Sam Ehlinger were sacked 60 times, which was second in the NFL. In 2021 the Colts gave up 32 sacks.
Jonathan Taylor had an MVP-caliber season in 2021, where he ran for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averaged 106.5 yards per game. 2022 was a different story. Taylor was limited to 11 games due to injury and ran for 861 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 78.3 yards per game. In 2022 Taylor had two 100-yard rushing games; he had 10 in 2021.
Michael Pittman was coming off his first 1,000-yard season with a good 2022 with 99 receptions for 925 yards and four touchdowns. There was a significant drop off between Pittman and the second leading receiver Parris Campbell, who had 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns. Rookie Alec Pierce had 41 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2021 the Colts’ defense was middle of the pack regarding total defense. The defense was near the bottom of the league regarding sacks but was second in turnover differential. In 2022 the Colts’ defense improved in total yards and jumped into the top ten in sacks. They were last in turnover differential at a -13. They were +14 in 2021. Shaquille Leonard, who in 2021 had 122 total tackles, eight forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions, was limited to three games this season due to back surgery. 2021 first-round pick Kwity Paye had six sacks; the trio of Paye, Yannick Ngakuke, whom the Colts got from the Raiders, and DeForest Buckner combined 23.5 sacks. Linebacker Zaire Franklin was fourth in the NFL with 167 tackles.
FREE AGENTS/TRADES TO TARGET
- Nate Davis/Ben Powers – The Colts’ offensive line was dreadful last season. One of these two guys can fix them.
- Trade for DeAndre Hopkins – if Hopkins is available, the Colts should look into it. Hopkins tortured the Colts for years as a member of the Texans. It also might not cost a lot to acquire him. The Colts need a game-changer at receiver, whether it’s Hopkins, Odell Beckham, or someone else.
- Sign Jamel Dean – Last offseason. The Colts brought in Stephon Gilmore. Dean is 26 years old and has been solid for the Bucs the past few seasons; he and Gilmore could create a dynamic duo.
DRAFT
RD1 (4) – CJ Stroud – QB – Ohio State. : Could the Colts move up and take Bryce Young? Sure, but if they stay at four, there’s a good chance the Ohio State quarterback will be there for them. Stroud could fit perfectly with Shane Steichen.
RD 2 (35) – Antonio Johnson – CB/S – TEXAS A&M – Long corner who might have to transfer to safety but gives the Colts a solid DB.
RD 3 (79) – Mike Morris – Edge- Michigan. Yannick Ngakoue is set to hit the free agent market. They can replace him with Morris, who can play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4. Morris does have to improve as a pass rusher, but he is solid against the run. This pick would reunite Morris with Kwity Paye, whom he played with at Michigan.
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