5 causes the Colts missed the playoffs in 2022
Woulda, coulda, shoulda. That’s what 31 groups look again on the finish of the season if it doesn’t finish in a Tremendous Bowl win.
That is very true for the franchises that didn’t even get into the playoffs. That was the case for the Indianapolis Colts.
In a season that was purported to be the one they lastly gained the AFC South in 2014 ended up being a curler coaster trip that led to embarrassment with how issues got here unglued on the finish of the yr.
Let’s check out the the explanation why Indy missed the postseason:
One other Gradual Begin
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One of many widespread themes in the course of the Frank Reich period was that they’d come out of the gates gradual to begin the season and it wasn’t any completely different in 2022. In a sport that almost all thought Indianapolis would finish their drought of not successful a season opener led to a tie with the Houston Texans. That was adopted up with a visit to Jacksonville and in typical vogue for Indy, it was a brutal efficiency by the workforce in a 24-0 loss.
Indy would find yourself stunning everybody by beating the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the following week however adopted that up with a loss to their divisional rival, the Tennessee Titans. The Colts began the primary 4 weeks in a gap that they needed to climb out of. To their credit score, they’d up getting over .500 however that also wasn’t sufficient to save lots of individuals’s jobs.
A win no less than in opposition to the Texans and Jaguars might’ve put them at a 3-1 report to begin the season and you’ll’t assist however marvel if Frank Reich would nonetheless be teaching the workforce in the event that they no less than began the yr off on be aware.
Blowing up the operation
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Regardless of the gradual begin to the season, the Colts have been nonetheless within the thick of issues come late October. Indianapolis would find yourself getting swept by the Titans for the second season in a row to fall to a 3-3-1 report. Whereas as disappointing as a loss was for the franchise, there was nonetheless loads of season left for the workforce to discover a rhythm and make a push for the playoffs however that was the second when the curler coaster trip hit the group.
Jim Irsay would find yourself going over his head coach’s head and forcing him to bench Matt Ryan for Sam Ehlinger. Then within the following weeks the Colts would find yourself letting go of Marcus Brady and Frank Reich then shocked the world by hiring Jeff Saturday because the interim head coach.
Whereas there’s a degree of understanding that Reich wanted to place collectively a playoff run to maintain his job, the timing of the choice to bench Ryan and hearth Reich was a bit off contemplating the workforce had a .500 report when the choice was made to drag the plug on the operation.
Turning the ball over an excessive amount of
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Matt Ryan getting benched may’ve been a way-too-early name however he definitely performed his means into that call. He was turning the ball over at an alarming fee, which was a shock as a result of Ryan was purported to convey the offense some stability by defending the ball. It wasn’t simply Ryan who was at fault for the Colts’ turnovers in 2022.
Whether or not it was Ryan or a ability place participant, no one on the workforce might maintain on to the ball this season. It felt like anytime the offense would cross midfield they’d discover some strategy to shoot themselves within the foot with a turnover. Indianapolis misplaced 14 fumbles and threw 20 interceptions whereas having the worst turnover differential (-13) within the NFL.
If the Colts would’ve been in a position to not give away the ball a lot then they seemingly don’t have had the gradual begin they’d and the choice to bench Ryan began off the curler coaster trip could have by no means occurred.
Poor play by the offensive line
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One of many elements that did result in the turnovers by Matt Ryan was that he was beneath fixed duress. The offensive line failed to provide him any time to sit down again and make his reads. The Colts line gave up 60 sacks in 2022, which was the second most within the NFL. Go safety wasn’t the one subject for the offensive line, in addition they couldn’t open up dashing lanes for the operating backs.
In 2021, Indianapolis averaged 149.4 dashing yards per sport, which was the second most within the league. In 2022, that quantity dropped all the best way right down to 109.8 dashing yards per sport. The offensive line did see some slight enchancment towards the top of the yr however it was too late by then. The choice to have Matt Pryor at left deal with and Danny Pinter at proper guard to begin the season ended up being a expensive one.
Down yr for Jonathan Taylor
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Jonathan Taylor was what made the offense run in 2021 however that wasn’t the case for 2022. It regarded like we have been going to see the identical Taylor this previous season together with his 161 rushing-yard efficiency within the season opener however he would fail to recover from 100 dashing yards till the Week 10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Taylor’s down yr was because of the offensive line with their struggles opening up lanes for him and the ankle harm that he suffered within the first loss to the Titans. He would find yourself lacking two weeks however when he returned you could possibly inform that he was nonetheless battling with how his ankle was treating him.
Finally, he regarded like himself in that sport in opposition to the Raiders and it appeared that the harm was behind him however he would solely find yourself enjoying two snaps in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings earlier than he ended up reaggravating his ankle harm.
That might find yourself with him getting positioned on the injured reserve lsit and placing an official finish to his 2022 season. The Colts now must make the most of the offseason to permit Taylor to get his ankle wholesome and repair the problems that they’d with the dashing assault this previous yr.