Colts Midseason Grades
The Indianapolis Colts sit at 4-5 after the first nine weeks of the 2023 season. And it's time to grade all three phases of the team as we've now crossed the halfway point of the season. Midseason Grades: Offense: Stats: Passing Yards: 11th best (1,987 yards) Rushing Yards: 8th best (1,110 yards) Yards Per Game: […]
The Indianapolis Colts sit at 4-5 after the first nine weeks of the 2023 season.
And it's time to grade all three phases of the team as we've now crossed the halfway point of the season.
Midseason Grades:
Offense:
Stats:
Passing Yards: 11th best (1,987 yards)
Rushing Yards: 8th best (1,110 yards)
Yards Per Game: 12th best (344.10 yards)
Turnovers: Tied for 4th worst (14)
Points: 5th best (232)
Grade: B
The Colts offense has had plenty of ups and downs this season, which many expected coming into the year with rookie QB Anthony Richardson under center. Unfortunately, Richardson's rookie season was plagued with injuries before having season-ending surgery after suffering a Grade 3 AC joint sprain. Since then, the Colts have started backup Gardner Minshew, who many believed to be the "safer" option for the Colts this season due to his ability to take care of the ball. This year, though, he has thrown five interceptions and five fumbles in seven games in which he has played a significant role for the team.
The Colts rushing attack has played a significant part in the team's ability to overcome the loss of Richardson so far this season. The duo of Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss have been among the best in the entire NFL. This has helped the Colts be the only team to score at least 20 points in every game this season, a feat they failed to do ten times last year. Head coach Shane Steichen has proven himself to be one of the best offensive minds in the NFL during his first season as a head coach, which is a major development for the team's future.
Defense:
Stats:
Passing Yards Allowed: 6th worst (2,115 yards)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 5th worst (1,130 yards)
Yards Per Game: 7th worst (360.60 yards)r
Interceptions: Tied for 3rd best (9)
Sacks: Tied for 7th best (25)
Points: 2nd worst (242)
Grade: C-
The Colts defense has had some great moments this season, but throughout, they have been used as a "get right game" for multiple struggling offenses. Injuries have made an already thin CB room a liability. This is unfortunate because they are getting a special season from veteran Kenny Moore II, and both rookies Juju Brents and Jaylon Jones have had strong debut seasons. Brents has missed the past two weeks after suffering a quad injury in the team's Week 7 matchup vs. the Cleveland Browns. In his absence, the depth behind the two rookies (Darrell Baker Jr. and Tony Brown) has been a liability in coverage and shown that the team has work to do this offseason to improve the position group.
With a struggling secondary, more pressure is put on the team's pass rush to win their reps and get to the QB fast. And while the Colts are on pace for 47 sacks, the unit has been too inconsistent this season, which has allowed QBs to pick apart the depth Colts CBs.
Sacks by Week:
Week 1 Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2
Week 2 @ Houston Texans: 6
Week 3 @ Baltimore Ravens: 4
Week 4 Vs. Los Angeles Rams: 2
Week 5 Vs. Tennessee Titans: 1
Week 6 @ Jacksonville Jaguars: 3
Week 7 Vs. Cleveland Browns: 2
Week 8 Vs. New Orleans Saints: 1
Week 9 @ Carolina Panthers: 4
Special Teams:
Stats:
Made Field Goals: Tied for 5th most (16)
Kickoff return yards allowed per game: 7th most (26.0 yards)
Average Punt yards: Tied for 16th (47.4 yards)
Punts downed inside the 20: Tied for 8th (12)
Grade: B
The Colts have a new Special Teams Coordinator this season after Bubba Ventrone elected to take the same position with the Cleveland Browns. They named Brian Mason their new Special Teams Coordinator and made a big move to give him a reliable kicker by signing Matt Gay to a lucrative deal. Gay has been as advertised this season; he is 16 of 18 on field goals this season and has made six of his seven attempts from 50+ yards out.
The team's kickoff team has not been as solid as in years past. They have allowed the 7th most kickoff return yards per game this season. Regarding their punt team, Rigoberto Sanchez struggled early this season after returning from an Achilles injury he suffered during last year's training camp. In Week 1, he had five punts with a season-low 30.0 net average and zero inside of the 20. He has been able to pin 12 of his 40 punts inside of the 20 on the season and has yet to have a touchback.
Predicting the outcome of the Colts final 8 games
Predicting how many games the Indianapolis Colts will win over the final eight games of the 2023 NFL season.
More proof of how impressive Colts CB Kenny Moore II was in Week 9
Indianapolis Colts CB Kenny Moore II earns high grade for his play in Week 9.
