When this past week’s preparation began, the Indianapolis Colts were in the midst of a quarterback controversy. It was all fans could talk about and, for good reason.
To be fair, second-year pro Anthony Richardson played a big part in this situation blowing up. By now, most of us know about Richardson pulling himself out of the game last Sunday on a third-and-goal situation because he was “tired.”
Beyond Richardson’s stunt, though, his play could justifiably be classified as inconsistent up to this point on the season. But, was Richardson the real problem? After all, he is still limited by experience and has a ways to go in developing. The Colts knew this when they drafted him.
Still, head coach Shane Steichen made the decision to bench Richardson going into the team’s Week 9 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. The prime time contest on Sunday Night Football only went on to show exactly what many Colts fans had been feeling all along.
By halftime in this one, fans were already poking fun at the decision for Steichen to start Flacco. It wasn’t pretty. The offense had yet to score and looked to be stagnant, to no one’s surprise.
By the time the clock ran out in the fourth quarter, the Colts had produced season lows in several categories including points (6), red zone drives (zero), first downs (13), yards (227), EPA/play (0.35) and rushing yards (68).
Yet, after the game -- the Colts did, indeed, lose by the way -- Steichen remained committed to Flacco as the team’s starting quarterback, reiterating that this isn’t just an experiment.
Shane Steichen remains tone deaf when it comes to his offense’s ineptitude
The Colts produced season lows in offensive points (6), total yards (227), rushing yards (68) and first downs (13) tonight.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) November 4, 2024
But Joe Flacco will remain the starting quarterback, according to coach Shane Steichen.
"Joe was fine," he said. "...It starts with myself."
Fans were especially upset at the tail end of the game, when the Colts faced a 4th-and-2 with the game on the line. Running back Jonathan Taylor was not on the field. The offense ran a slant to Ashton Dulin without any semblance of a chance at a completion.
When asked about why Trey Sermon was in the game instead of Taylor, Steichen had this to say:
"We have faith and trust in Trey when he needs to go in there. He had a few runs in there, too. So that's where that was at."
In the Colts’ last four games, they have yet to score more than 20 points as a team, and that includes defensive scores. Steichen’s ineptitude continues to rear its ugly head, and fans are sick of seeing the same old problems.
Whether it’s play calling or misusing personnel, Steichen has given us reason to believe his time in Indianapolis should be coming to an end. Whether or not you agree with his handling of the quarterback situation, Steichen should have already been on the hot seat.
Things do not get any easier, from here on out, either. Two of the Colts’ next three games are against the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, with the New York Jets sandwiched in between.
Something’s got to give.