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Colts offense can only go up from here and the stats show that they will likely improve

By Noah Compton

Oct 6, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich talks with quarterback Matt Ryan (2) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich talks with quarterback Matt Ryan (2) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Quenton Nelson #56 of the Indianapolis Colts stands in a huddle against the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images) /

Colts’ offensive line has been really concerning

Concerns moving forward for a team with playoff aspirations is worrisome enough, but the fact this offensive line, with Quenton Nelson (highest-paid guard in the history of the league), Ryan Kelly (the fifth-highest-paid center in the league), and Braden Smith (fourth-highest paid right tackle in the league), is dead last is certainly something to worry about. Not even to mention, coach Reich and offensive line coach Chris Strausser have recently started a  game of musical chairs when composing starting lines week in and week out.

What’s most concerning is Braden Smith played at right guard for the first time since college, last Thursday in Denver. This isn’t to say Smith cannot succeed there, but if this change were to remain permanent, the Colts would be rostering the richest guard combo in the history of the NFL (by far, I’m sure).

From the DVOA database, the Colts have the league-worst team overall DVOA, despite posting the 11th-best defensive DVOA, as well as the 18th-best special teams DVOA. If that alone doesn’t prove how bad this offense has been, I don’t know what will. Not to mention, the Colts are the worst-scoring offense in the league with a 13.8 points-per-game average.

Offensively speaking, as you’d expect, the Colts have the worst offensive DVOA in the league, by a big margin, too. Indy has a -35.2% offensive DVOA, or in other words, the Colts’ offense is 35% worse of an offense than that of the average NFL offense. Of course, the pass/rush DVOA are both dead last for Indianapolis, 32nd in both.

What’s shocking, from the first glance at least, is that the Colts rushing DVOA (-32.5%) is even worse than its passing score (-30%). This may be due to the hefty amount of turnovers the Matty Ice-led offense has surrendered thus far, nonetheless, the run game has seen a historic relapse so far in 2022.

While all of these stats show how horrible things have been, there’s reason to be optimistic about Indianapolis turning things around offensively.

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