5 Questions Surrounding Indianapolis Colts at Midseason Mark

While the Indianapolis Colts are enjoying their bye week, there are many questions surrounding the franchise that need answers.

The Indianapolis Colts and head coach Shane Steichen are tied at 5-5 heading into the Week 11 matchup. After 10 games, injuries and position changes, questions remain about Indianapolis.

In this episode, we take a closer look at five of the most pressing unanswered questions about stray puppies.
Let’s start with tight end, who was an ambiguous figure until the 2023 season.

Question #1: Will TE Jelani Woods play in 2023?
Jelani Woods showed a lot of promise as a rookie in 2022 on a terrible team. However, he did not fare well as a rookie and did not see the field at all in 2023.
Woods suffered a groin injury early in practice and was unable to return to the court.
It’s a big disappointment, especially with Steichen’s commitment as head coach and play caller.
Many believed that former manager Frank Reich and interim coach Jeff Saturday were simply bullying Woods and that Steichen could turn him around.

Unfortunately, the Steichen-Woods tandem could not even start.
Could Woods join the disabled list in Indianapolis this year?

The next bye week will tell us a lot about Woods’ status.
If the Colts enter their Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without Woods, it could mean he’s out for the rest of the season.

Question #2: Will RB Zack Moss return to Indy in 2024?
Running back Zach Moss was Indianapolis’ offense until franchise starter Jonathan Taylor returned from injury and contract talks.

Taylor’s workload has dropped significantly in recent games since his return, but he still ranks fifth in the NFL with 617.
Here’s how Moss started the year.

Moss has 89 carries for 445 rushing yards (5.0 avg.), three rushing TDs and one receiving TD in his first four games. This included a standout performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3.
He had 30 carries for 122 rushing yards (4.1 avg.) and hit .
Many fans called for Indy to re-sign Moss to pair him with Taylor.
This will help QB Anthony Richardson develop a strong ground game.
However, the Colts have Evan Hull (torn meniscus this year), so Moss could be a bellwether elsewhere.
This is just an opinion, but there is a strong belief that Moss will join another team in 2024 once he becomes a free agent. Taylor is the long-term answer for Indianapolis, and Moss may make too much money to justify paying free agent Chris Ballard again.
Question 3: Has the offensive line recovered?

Former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Steichen and offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. Acquired from the New York Giants to lead the Colts defense, this season has aged like fine wine.
After a terrible 2022, the Colts’ offensive line has been one of the biggest question marks in Steichen’s first season as head coach.
But now, 10 games later, Indy’s offensive line is playing like a top-10 team again.
They currently have the 8th fewest sacks allowed in the NFL (22).
That’s been the case most of the season for Gardner Minshew, who isn’t as mobile but isn’t as athletic as Richardson.
The ground game also works through the line as the Colts rank 9th in the league in passing yards per game with a strong 118.0. Putting all these numbers together shows that Indians are making progress.
Here are Pro Football Focus’ total blocking grades for all five starters, including rush numbers.

LT Bernhard Reimann: 82.8 (547 images)

C Ryan Kelly: 81.2 (490 snaps)

RT Braden Smith: 79.2 (399 shots)

LG Quenton Nelson: 63.6 (677 photos)

RG Will Price: 62.9 (658 photos)

Have the Colts regained maximum efficiency from their offensive line?
So far the answer is yes.
But most of that demand is for the final seven games that end the season.
If the Colts and a resurgent offensive line can use a flexible schedule to finish 2023, they could sneak into the postseason.

Question #4: Will Gus Bradley return as defensive coordinator?
Despite the Colts boasting a strong defensive front led by DeForest Buckner and a promising linebacker corps led by Zaire Franklin, their defensive numbers are still lacking and the team has lost games this year.

The main criticism for the defensive miscues was leveled at coordinator Gus Bradley.
Here are some key defensive stats and how the Colts rank in the NFL.

Total yards allowed per game: 358.5 (26th)

Total passing yards allowed per game: 228.8 (t-19)

Total rushing yards allowed per game: 129.7 (24th)

Total points allowed per game: 24.8 (25th)

The Colts don’t have a better 10-game average. This has led many to question Bradley’s future.
His criticism is valid, but the Colts are tied for third in the league in most interceptions by a team (11), indicating that Kenny Moore II and his developing secondary are starting to get the football.

Strong safety Julian Blackmon is also having his best season. Perhaps the secondary and Bradley’s defense can perform better than they did in the last seven games against the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots.

If he looks better through 2023, Bradley will likely stick around for the foreseeable future.
Question #5: Shaq Leonard

This is a title, not a question like the previous four posts.
because? His name raises many questions.

In recent interviews and on multiple occasions, Shaquille Leonard has expressed his displeasure with the Colts and how they are using him.
He may be on the receiving end, but the message could also reach defensive coordinator Bradley.

Here’s the short version for those who don’t know. Leonard had an unusually poor season in 2022.
It was later revealed that Leonard had serious back problems that were caused by nerve issues causing pain in his lower legs.
He would later undergo surgery and begin a long road to recovery that would end at the start of the 2023 regular season.
Leonard had 65 tackles (34 solo) and two tackles for loss in nine games. The former three-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro has had trouble rediscovering his effectiveness.
Is it because of the surgery?
Can you still reach 100%? Is this Bradley’s plan? There are a lot of questions surrounding Leonard, but it doesn’t look like any of them will be answered anytime soon.

Any way you look at it, Leonard isn’t happy and looks like he could make more plays, but Indy isn’t giving him the picture.
Let’s see what happens in the next few weeks and break.