After coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in 2022, the Indianapolis Colts offense turned over a new leaf the following season. With the hiring of offensive master-mind Shane Steichen, Indy improved tremendously in just one year. This was due in large part to the way in which Steichen calls the offense, but it also had to do with the personnel on offense.
In 2022, the Indianapolis Colts were one of the worst offenses in the league. They were last in total touchdowns scored, with only 28 through 17 games. They averaged 17.0 points per game, which ranked 31st in front of the Denver Broncos, who were last. Fast forward to the very next season, and one can see how a head coach can make all the difference.
With Shane Steichen calling the plays in 2023, the Indianapolis Colts offense went from worst to the top 10. This came with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew starting 13 games and Jonathan Taylor missing seven games. The collective effort and the mentality to win ultimately prevailed. How will Shane Steichen duplicate last season’s success and dominate in 2024?
Why the Indianapolis Colts Offense is Primed for Dominance
The Abundance of Offensive Weapons
There is no question that the Colts improved their offense this offseason. They extended top receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to a three-year deal. They also drafted a college standout from the University of Texas in, Adonai Mitchell. To add to that, Josh Downs is coming back for year two after a breakout rookie campaign. Jonathan Taylor will be back healthy after an injury-laden season. Alec Pierce is on a mission to silence his critics and have a breakout 2024 campaign. And lastly, Jelani Woods is looking to come back healthy after missing all of the 2023 season.
The Indianapolis Colts have weapons in every facet of their offense. They still need to shore up who their second running back will be, but aside from that, they have the talent to improve and continue where they left off. Although their scoring was high, the main issue last season was being consistent on third downs. The Colts ranked 26th in third down percentage last season. While their percentage improved from 2022, it still was not great. However, with the abundance of offensive weapons this season, they should improve in this area. The key to being efficient on offense is scoring points but also converting third downs.
A Healthy Anthony Richardson
The most obvious reason why the Indianapolis Colts offense is primed for dominance is because their franchise quarterback will be coming back healthy. Starting quarterback Anthony Richardson is not quite 100% yet, but he is improving and is expected to be ready for the 2024 season. In the four games that he started, Richardson accumulated seven total touchdowns with 577 passing yards and 136 rushing yards. His four rushing touchdowns ranked seventh amongst quarterbacks, and his 34 rush yards per game also ranked fifth amongst quarterbacks. It should be noted that Richardson achieved this with only four starts.
Needless to say, Richardson displayed explosive capabilities. However, he did not just explode with his legs; he also exploded with his arm. On his 84 pass attempts, 10 of which were deep balls, and three were caught. This showcases that Richardson is not afraid to take shots. This was something the team struggled with in 2022. However, moving forward with Richardson, this Indianapolis Colts offense is primed for explosive plays every week.
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