Colts Loss To Packers Is The Lowest Point In Steichen’s Tenure

Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty

Shane Steichen has been pretty good as the Colts head coach.

He coached up Gardner Minshew last season, got the Colts to a 9-8 record, and generally had his team outperforming expectations week in and week out. He clearly knows how to design an offense, and I still believe he can be a very good head coach for a long time in Indy.

However, Sunday’s loss to Green Bay was not a good moment for him. In fact, it was the lowest point in his tenure. Granted, he’s only been here for 20 games, but I’m not sure there was any game last season that was as confusing, from start to finish, as the loss to the Packers was.

First, there was the generally stale offensive scheme; hardly any designed runs for Richardson, not many plays where they moved the pocket and tried to make it easier for him. Then, there was the baffling decision to take Jonathan Taylor, who was far and away the best player on offense, out of the game in the 4 th quarter. Steichen later said it was because they were in pass-first mode.

Sign up for the 107.5 The Fan Newsletter to receive the latest news updates!

It’s fair to point out that one of Taylor’s biggest weaknesses is pass blocking, and that he had dropped a pass and fumbled earlier in the ballgame. It’s also fair to note that Taylor was averaging 8.6 yards per carry and was the only consistent weapon the struggling Colts offense had. In a close game, with a young quarterback taking his lumps and an offense that is stuck in the mud, you need your best players on the field.

The “pass-first mode” excuse also doesn’t explain why, on a 3 rd -and-1 in Packers territory, the Colts ran an option play with Trey Sermon, and not Taylor. The Packers stuffed it, and the Colts trotted out Matt Gay for a long field goal, which naturally he missed.

The Colts clearly have a lot of issues, especially on the defensive side of the ball. With all those issues, Steichen cannot have games like he did on Sunday. He must be better, otherwise Richardson’s development, and the Colts season, will suffer for it.

During the Wednesday edition of The Ride With JMV, John spoke to Jarrett Payton, son of Bears legend Walter Payton, as well as Kevin Bowen and others, as Steichen and company look to put their Week 2 loss behind and prepare to face Chicago. Listen to those conversations and more down below, and tune into The Ride With JMV weekdays from 3-6pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan!

The post Colts Loss To Packers Is The Lowest Point In Steichen’s Tenure appeared first on 93.5 / 107.5 The Fan .