The Indianapolis Colts are a massive disaster in 2022
The Indianapolis Colts have tried to figure out a solution at quarterback since Andrew Luck retired, but their problems are much deeper than that. Many had the Colts as an easy shoo-in to win the weak AFC South this year. After four games in 2022, it’s clear that Indy has been nothing short of a total disaster, and their issues aren’t just in one spot.
The first one lies with Chris Ballard, their General Manager, and his problem is multi-layered. Around the NFL, he is seen as one of the “best” in the league. People around the NFL seem to generally trust what he does with his teams, and his track record, especially with drafting, is solid.
Indianapolis Colts have been one of the NFL’s worst teams in 2022
However, ever since Andrew Luck retired before the 2019 season, Ballard has had several years to try and implement some sort of plan at the position. Since then, he’s cycled through Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, one year of Carson Wentz, and now Matt Ryan, who looks cooked. None of those quarterbacks are bad at what they do, but not establishing some sort of succession when you had those names in the building is inexcusable.
All of Rivers, Wentz, and Ryan, are and were, at the very least, quality veterans who surely could have rubbed off positively on a young signal caller. I found this article on si.com, and I think it summarizes the Chris Ballard experience perfectly. Ballard had carved out for himself a nice tenure as a GM but clearly takes a more conservative approach.
He doesn’t take chances in free agency. He brings in quarterbacks that without a plan, but seemingly play well enough to keep the team afloat, and he’s also investing a ton of money into positions that aren’t nearly as valuable as they once were.
Both Quenton Nelson and Shaquille Leonard are two of the very best at what they do, but they play guard and inside linebacker. Paying both players nearly $20 million per year is not what modern-day NFL roster building is supposed to be like. The Indianapolis Colts think otherwise, it seems.
They’re both massive assets to the team, but I think when your best player is a guard, you have massive, massive problems. Another huge mistake he made was dumping Carson Wentz after one year and replacing him with Matt Ryan.
Wentz wasn’t great, but he was good. He took care of the ball and was mostly efficient. Wentz, in 2021, threw seven interceptions all season. Their new quarterback, Matt Ryan, already has five of them and has taken 15 sacks.
Matt Ryan is washed, to be honest, and I wish that weren’t the case. All in all, the Indianapolis Colts are a total disaster and multiple reasons have contributed to this.