What the Colts must go proper subsequent season with a view to be again within the playoffs

Anthony Richardson turning into a dependable quarterback

After all all of us need Anthony Richardson to grow to be an MVP-caliber quarterback, and put up 50 whole touchdowns whereas main the Colts to the #1 seed within the AFC convention, however being extra real looking, the one factor the Colts want from him is to grow to be a minimum of a dependable quarterback. The offense is effectively put collectively, the operating recreation labored, and he has the weapons to throw to. The Colts simply don’t want AR to play hero-ball and at all times go for the homerun. I get that this may most likely be attempting to show Richardson into one thing he’s clearly not, but when he would simply be capable to hit the layups 5-6 occasions a recreation, whereas nonetheless offering the operating menace and infrequently hitting the lengthy ball, that will be greater than sufficient to show the Colts’ offense right into a high 10 unit.

Respectable manufacturing from the tight finish place

The final productive season by a Colts tight finish got here from Eric Ebron in 2018, when he acquired 13 touchdowns. There was additionally the at all times dependable Jack Doyle, who the Colts by no means managed to switch. Coby Fleener had three consecutive seasons with over 50 catches from 2013 to 2015. Dwayne Allen was not solely an above-average run blocker but in addition a red-zone menace to think about with 15 receiving touchdowns from 2014 to 2016. For the previous 4 years, the very best season for a decent finish got here from Mo Alie-Cox again in 2021. Now once more, I’m not asking for the Colts to get Mark Andrews and Brock Bowers (although that will be good), however both through the Draft or free-agency they should get somebody who shouldn’t be going to be only a man. There are many choices obtainable for the Colts to pursue, both utilizing their first spherical decide on Tyler Warren or Coltson Loveland, or going the free-agency approach and getting a veteran like Zach Ertz, Austin Hooper, or Mike Gesicki.

Protection evolving below new coordinator Anarumo, unlocking the potential of younger gamers

The Colts’ protection was not the rationale the crew didn’t make the playoffs, and whereas I used to be not notably keen on him, I feel that Gus Bradley was the scapegoat for the crew’s lack of success. My largest critic of Bradley’s scheme was that it restricted gamers an excessive amount of, and that he didn’t develop the younger pass-rushers. With established guys like Stewart and Bucker the system labored simply fantastic, however anytime one of many two had been out all of it crumbled. I additionally feared for Latu’s improvement below Bradley, seeing how Dayo and Paye’s careers stagnated. Beneath Anarumo the Colts’ protection will most likely look way more totally different, and the crew wants among the younger gamers on the unit like Dayo, Latu, Cross, Jones, and even Carlies to breakout.

Enjoying complementary soccer

What number of occasions previously three years did it appear to be everytime the offense was lastly discovering some rythm the protection crumbled, or when the protection was lastly getting stops the offense both turned the ball over or went three and out for consecutive drives? The one time I can bear in mind final 12 months that the Colts got here near taking part in complementary soccer was in opposition to the Broncos when Sam Womack intercepted the ball, after which Jonathan Taylor rushed the ball all the best way to the one-yard line earlier than dropping it proper earlier than reaching the endzone. For the Colts to take that subsequent step they want to have the ability to feed off one another’s successes, and compound the nice performs with a view to construct sizable leads.