Colts: What each quarterback on the roster needs to improve upon most
By Mike Luciano
The Indianapolis Colts appear to have one of the more talented young quarterback rooms in the game after the addition of Carson Wentz as the starter was supplemented by Jacob Eason as the backup and sixth-round selection Sam Ehlinger as the No. 3 guy on the depth chart.
All of these guys have one standout trait that has made or could make them a high-level NFL starter. For example, Wentz’s propensity for making throws despite getting hit hard, Eason’s pure arm strength, and Ehlinger’s playmaking ability are all plus traits for a quarterback to have.
Having said that, a staff with as much talent and experience as the one Indianapolis has constructed must know that this group is far from set as far as their development goes. All three of them have some major bugaboos that they need to fix as soon as possible in order to run the offense properly.
The potential for a high-octane passing attack is there, but Indy could have trouble materializing that unless these three issues get fixed (or start to get fixed) in training camp.
Colts: All 3 quarterbacks must fix these huge flaws.
3. Sam Ehlinger: Deep Accuracy
Ehlinger has a very long, very productive college career in a quality conference, but that’s not a barometer of success in the pros. Ehlinger had the size and the arm talent to be a very highly-touted prospect, but it was accuracy that ended up weighing on his stock.
The former Longhorn QB’s ability to connect deep was pitiful, as he would go entire games at a time without completing a pass more than 20 yards downfield. This simply isn’t going to fly on a Reich offense that loved to stretch the field and then strike with the quick game after opening the defense up a bit.
Sam Ehlinger isn’t very accurate deep down the field. The Colts need to fix that.
He likely won’t see the field as a passer barring some calamitous injury misfortune or a startling regression on the part of Wentz and Eason, but that doesn’t mean Indianapolis should completely stop monitoring his progress.
Ehlinger is a huge mound of NFL clay that the Colts need to figure out how to mold quickly. If they choose to let his accuracy issues fester, not only will Ehlinger likely spend his career bouncing between practice squads, but Indy will have wasted a draft pick on someone who couldn’t really contribute from an Xs and Os standpoint.