The Indianapolis Colts made the decision to bench Matt Ryan and start Sam Ehlinger but the changes for the franchise shouldn’t stop there.
With the recent news of quarterback Matt Ryan being replaced by second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger, Indianapolis Colts fans are left in a state that they are not used to. The state of not knowing what direction this team is heading in. Can Ehlinger find a way to salvage the season? Should the Colts just tank? Those are the two main questions following this move. Even after this change, I think there are three more moves Indianapolis should consider in the coming days and weeks.
3. Colts should part ways with head coach Frank Reich
I have always been in the crowd of keeping Reich heading into this season. In the NFL, there are always going to be fan bases that want their coach to be fired. I do not say this because I think he is a bad coach. I say this because I think there needs to be a culture change in the locker room and on the field with the team and that starts with the head coach. Reich is a former player himself and knows what it takes to win. That does not mean that he has to be a head coach, however. I think that Reich has one of the most genuine personalities in the league but I believe that it is time to make a change.
There are some notable names that I think about if a change is made with Coach Reich. Sean Payton has taken a break from coaching but has said that the door is still open to the possibility of coaching again. Byron Leftwich, the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is another guy that I have my eyes on. Finally, Eric Bieniemy, currently the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. These are all guys that have different personalities than Reich. They carry more of a swag with them and fire that carries over to their teams. All three have been successful with the teams that they are currently with or have coached at.
Reich is 40-33-1 in his tenure going into Week 8 with the Colts. That is not a bad record but could and should be much better. Indy has only played in three playoff games in his time with the Colts and only won one of them. That was in 2018 with Andrew Luck in his last season. Now, that is not all on him as the players are the ones that play the game but, I just feel like now is the time to go ahead and move in a different direction at head coach.