NFC head coach has interesting thoughts about Carson Wentz

The play of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz has gotten the attention of various people around the NFL.

Later this month on Dec. 30, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz will turn 29. Oftentimes, it’s easy to forget that Wentz is still a relatively young quarterback just because he has been through so much in his career.

Experiencing nearly everything there is for a professional player to experience, Wentz has played MVP-caliber football, suffered a career-threatening injury, won a Super Bowl, played horribly, and has been traded. That’s a roller coaster of a career and Wentz has been through it all before turning 30.

Fortunately for Wentz, these challenges did come early enough in his career that he was able to learn and bounce back. That’s exactly what he’s doing in his first year with the Colts, as this new beginning has gotten his career back on track.

In 12 games so far with Indianapolis, Wentz is completing 62.8% of his passes for 2,790 yards, 21 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also has 159 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

This is a stark contrast to the 12 games Wentz played last season with the Eagles where he completed 57.4% of passes for 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns, and a league-high 15 interceptions.

The growth of Wentz hasn’t just been observed by Indianapolis and its fans, but people all across the league are taking note. As reported by FanSided’s Matt Lombardo, an anonymous NFC head coach has said of Wentz, “He’s way more comfortable in that offense. He has a strong running game and a great RPO package that suits his skill-set perfectly.“

NFL notices Carson Wentz’s improvement with the Colts

The circumstances in Indianapolis are much more favorable for Wentz’s success. In Philadelphia, where he was the franchise player, Wentz was the No. 1 offensive option and often tried to play hero ball with a depleted roster. This often led to him making costly mistakes or taking unnecessary punishment.

With the Colts, he can play off the run game, sometimes retreating to somewhat of a game manager role, while other times dominating the defenses with his arm. Wentz is given the responsibility on the field to decide whether it is best to hand the ball to Jonathan Taylor or for him to pass it himself.

Someone with the decision-making history of Wentz wouldn’t usually get this level of power, but his head coach, Frank Reich, trusts him. The relationship between the two has also been something noticed across the league. An NFC North personnel executive also told Matt Lombardo, “Frank Reich’s influence is obvious, and a big help for Wentz.”

Frank Reich has a special bond with Carson Wentz

Reich was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia during Wentz’s best years, and it’s evident that he knows how to unlock Carson. Reich has repeatedly voiced his confidence in allowing Wentz to be himself and his trust that Wentz will often make the best decisions.

The Colts’ Week 12 game vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have been the best example of both Wentz’s development and his relationship with Reich. Reich was transparent with the media about the heavy amount of RPOs called in the game, and it resulted in just a few carries for Taylor but 44 passes, 306 yards, and three touchdowns for Wentz.

Although Indy came up short, and Wentz had just one interception that could be pinned on him, the 31 points and overall offensive production showed that Wentz made the right decision more times than not.

Occasionally, Wentz shows flashes of the frenetic player he was in Philadelphia that made reckless plays, but for the most part, he is reformed. He has been healthy and trustworthy for Indianapolis and is a big reason why they have a chance to make the playoffs this year.

3 Colts players who are trending up entering final month

The NFL is entering the final month of the regular season so let’s look at Colts players who are trending up and can help out Carson Wentz down the stretch.