NFL observers around the nation react to Colts' stunningly bad start
The Indianapolis Colts appear to be in trouble already, and we're just two weeks into the NFL season.
The Colts are 0-1-1 after a 24-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that followed a 20-20 tie against the Houston Texans. Those AFC South foes are supposed to be among the NFL's worst teams.
So who's the problem? Quarterback Matt Ryan? Coach Frank Reich? General manager Chris Ballard?
Doyel: Colts' loss to Jaguars a failure by Jim Irsay, Frank Reich, Chris Ballard, Matt Ryan
There are plenty of opinions.
Mike Kaye, Pro Football Network
"The once-heralded offensive visionary of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LII run has few accolades to point to during his tenure in Indianapolis, and at this point, the Colts head coach should be squarely on the hot seat."
"And while rumor mills continually place names like Matt Rhule of the Carolina Panthers, Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals, and Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys at the top of the hot-seat lists, (Frank) Reich has paddled in mediocrity just as long as the aforementioned trio."
Connor Orr, Sports Illustrated
"We have gone in waves with this Colts franchise since the beginning of the Frank Reich and Chris Ballard regime. We started out admiring Reich for taking a job that Josh McDaniels abandoned. We felt miserable for them after Andrew Luck decided, due in part to the sins of a previous staff, that he no longer wanted to play football. We felt invigorated, as folks around the league praised the holistic roster building approach that was supposed to keep the Colts relevant. We shrugged our shoulders and waved off all the struggles of the team under a cattle call of veteran quarterbacks.
"The Colts may end up being the perfect example of a team that was buoyed by legitimate excuse making. This can happen sometimes in the NFL. While some coaches don’t get the benefit of the doubt under similarly horrid circumstances caused largely by the incompetence of former shot-callers, we looked at the Colts post-McDaniels, post-Luck, post-everything and let them be. They were a team whose struggles were understandable.
"But we are now four years removed from Luck deciding he was finished with the NFL. In that same time span, we have seen complete franchise rebirths with fewer raw materials to start. We have seen rebirths and deaths. Four years is a lifetime in the NFL."
Maurice Moton, Bleacher Report
Because of a negative game script, the Colts had to push the ball downfield with their subpar passing game. Quarterback Matt Ryan completed 16 of 30 passes and threw three interceptions. For the season, he's thrown just one touchdown and four interceptions, which raises legitimate concerns.
Since Andrew Luck's retirement in August of 2019, the Colts have started the season with a new starting quarterback every year. Ryan, who turned 37 years old in May, may be the next one-and-down starter under center. He's played like a quarterback on a sharp decline, even with Pittman on the field last week.
Stephen Knox, Deadspin
The Colts have far from the most difficult schedule in the NFL. Six of their games are against the AFC South — arguably the worst division in the league — and while they have to do battle against the AFC West, the NFC division that they’re matched up against is the NFC East.
They have the opportunity to get their season back on track, but if they continue to play like they have the first two weeks of this season, they’ll be in the running for a high enough 2023 draft pick to select Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud.
Jeff Kerr, CBS Sports
The Colts looked pathetic in Sunday's shutout loss to the Jaguars, going just 2 of 10 on third down and gaining 218 yards of offense. Matt Ryan threw three interceptions and looked over the hill against an aggressive Jaguars front, which manhandled the Colts' offensive line and finished with five sacks.
Indianapolis was 0-for-2 in the red zone and finished with three turnovers, not exactly the offense the Colts thought they were getting when they ditched Carson Wentz for Ryan.
The Colts, who were expected to rule the AFC South this season, now have a loss to Jacksonville and a tie against Houston. That's inexcusable.
Ross Tucker on the "Dan Patrick Show"
"Whatever weakness you have, it seems it always gets exacerbated. Michael Pittman not being able to play reinforced that the Colts are not good enough at wide receiver. Their worst position group is receiver.
"The O-line is not as good as they're supposed to be because the left tackle's not good. The right guard's a concern. It's a mess.
"You think about all offseason, (owner) Jim Irsay -- basically every chance he got -- ripping Carson Wentz, subtly."
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts blame goes to Matt Ryan, Frank Reich, Chris Ballard, Jim Irsay
