As fans celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s take a look at the things the Indianapolis Colts should be thankful for during the 2023 NFL season.
by Noah Compton
It’s time to celebrate Thanksgiving! While the holiday is filled with food, family, and football, it’s also a time to reflect and express gratitude. As people all around gather to give thanks, it’s also a good time to talk about the things that the Indianapolis Colts should be thankful for in 2023.
Indianapolis has had a ton of ups and downs this season, but the team arrives at Thanksgiving with a 5-5 record and an optimistic view for the rest of the season. With that being said, let’s jump into the list of things Indianapolis fans can be thankful for.
5) Colts fans should be thankful for being on the bubble for a playoff push
The most important and intriguing aspect of the season going into Week 12 is the fact the Indianapolis Colts are fighting for a playoff spot. As the No. 8 seed in the AFC currently, the Colts have given themselves a chance that many, including myself, deemed as a foregone conclusion following Anthony Richardson’s season-ending injury.
Lo and behold, the Colts are right in the thick of things with a very favorable schedule lying ahead. The Colts remaining schedule consists of a flurry of bottom-tier and/or backup starting QBs leading the way. Winning half of their next six games prior to the season finale would theoretically put them in a position for a win-or-go-home spot against AFC South rival, the Houston Texans. To quote Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers, “Never say never.”
4) Colts fans should be thankful for the new age offense
First-year head coach Shane Steichen is responsible for the 180 degree turnaround that this Colts offense has seen from just a season ago where turmoil was in abundance. His modern day philosophy has netted impressive results thus far despite a slew of injuries, notably of rookie QB Anthony Richardson, that has come Indy’s way.
Speaking of which, although he is in the midst of rehabbing for the aforementioned injury, Anthony Richardson is easily the number one thing Colts fans are excited for. A mere 21-year-old, Richardson flashed his otherworldy talents in just 2.5 games before going down for the season, providing a salivatory tease of what’s possible across the entirety of an NFL season.
Anthony Richardson was effective with his arm and legs, throwing for 577 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, while adding 136 rushing yards on the ground and four additional touchdowns.
Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson will look to stack their early efforts beyond just the 2024 season. Coach Steichen has already cemented himself as a viable head coach through 10 games of a mainly backup QB-led squad and Anthony Richardson is by no means a lock for superstardom, though his flashes after inexperience concerns are nothing to scoff at. Colts fans ought to be ecstatic at what’s on the horizon in Indianapolis.
3) Colts fans should be thankful for Indy’s newfound sense of accountability
Through 11 weeks of the 2023 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts, under Shane Steichen, have already shown more accountability than in years past. Specifically-speaking, the Steichen era Colts value production more than ever before. A no nonsense mindset from the top has been implemented.
After an abysmal performance from running back Deon Jackson in Week 1 as the Colts awaited both Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor’s return(s), he was waived. Following a trio of poor performances to begin the year, second-year corner back Darrell Baker Jr. was benched.
The latest submission is that of Darius Shaquille Leonard. After an inability to return to form in due time and a recent airing of grievances to the media, amongst other things, Leonard was let go after owner Jim Irsay, general manager Chris Ballard, and head coach Shane Steichen came to the consensus that it was best for both sides to part ways, despite how difficult it may have been. Needless to say, the new era in Indy is off and running when it comes to doing everything they can to provide the best product possible.
2) Colts fans should be thankful that the offensive line returned to form
After two years of head-scratching at what had become the latest version of the Indianapolis Colts offensive line, they have seemingly returned to form in Shane Steichen’s scheme under new offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr.
The offensive line had proved to step up their game during the second half of the 2022 season under interim head coach Jeff Saturday, though the inconsistencies remained prevalent. It wasn’t until 2023 when the wheels really began to turn.
The 2023 Colts offensive line has seen a breakout sophomore campaign from left tackle Bernhard Raimann and a career-best year from the longest tenured Colt, center Ryan Kelly. As a unit, PFF ranks Indy’s OL as the 12th-best pass blocking unit as well as the eighth-best run blocking unit. When you consider that’s been whilst protecting a skittish yet serviceable backup in Gardner Minshew, it’s even more impressive. The line is by no means a finished product, though the quick turnaround leads to believe the trajectory is going up.
1) Colts fans should be thankful for the young roster
As documented prior to the season opener, the Indianapolis Colts boast the league’s fourth-youngest roster. The fact Colts’ rookie QB Anthony Richardson is the main influence on this average screams this team, and more specifically this offense, has barely scratched the surface of what’s to come.
Center Ryan Kelly, defensive tackle Grover Stewart, and tight end Mo Alie-Cox are the team’s only players who are 30+ years of age, and going into the season, when the aforementioned average was put together, Kelly had recently turned 30 whereas Stewart and Alie-Cox didn’t celebrate their 30th until after the season started.
It would even be an understatement to say this roster has only seen, in 10 games, a small percentage of what’s truly possible with a team this young. With Shane Steichen leading the charge, the best possible product year in and year out will continue to be exemplified on a weekly basis. It’s just a matter of time before things iron themselves out into a high-scoring, hardnosed football team.
There is plenty more to be thankful for; DeForest Buckner continuing to be an underappreciated menace on the defensive line, Zaire Franklin establishing himself as a tackling machine, you name it. These five examples, however, are what will/can keep the team afloat and even as perennial contenders moving forward.
Originally posted on horseshoeheroes.com